When Utaha Kasumigaoka finally realized that she hadn't been wrong all along—Mashiro was definitely pitch-black inside once you cut her open.
Tokyo, XX (Classified) Bay.
"Young Master Doma, there's no way Mai can succeed, right?" After Mai Sakurajima explained what she wanted to do to Ms. Sakurajima, the latter first expressed her full support. Yet when Mai left alone for a while, Ms. Sakurajima's expression turned grave as she looked at Sogo Doma.
"Hm?" Sogo Doma turned to look at her. "Why do you say that, Ms. Sakurajima? The method Mai came up with has a lot of hope of fundamentally solving—"
"Young Master Doma, I'm not an idiot!" Before he could finish, Ms. Sakurajima stared hard at him. "Leaving aside whether Mai's condition will really heal on its own once the public remembers her again, her current situation alone makes a comeback extremely difficult. Tell me, how can someone nobody can see appear on screen again?"
"Well, shouldn't that be the responsibility of you, her manager?" Sogo Doma said noncommittally, seeming not to take her words seriously.
Ms. Sakurajima fell silent for a long while before lowering her head. "I'm sorry. I... I can't think of a way. Young Master Doma, if you have another solution, or if you can make Mai's comeback happen, please..."
"Wait, didn't Mai say so herself? While she's at school, other people can still observe her..." Sogo Doma reminded her.
"I don't think the range of observation from one school can change anything..." Ms. Sakurajima lowered her head again. "Mai is my daughter. I absolutely won't let her disappear. Young Master Doma, I'm begging you, please help me!"
...Sogo Doma sighed inwardly. Sure enough, anyone whose brain hadn't been eaten knew Mai's method was pretty unreliable. But why had Mai refused something as simple