Wait
She suddenly recalled something:
That man hadn't done "that" to her, but rather to this body's owner: Sakurajima Mai. Once she realized that, Nodoka's eyes went wide.
Conclusion: Her idol, top star Sakurajima Mai, had taken part in amulti-person arrangement?
She was stunned. The very famous sister she'd admiredwas she actually living such a wild private life?
Her mind raced with scandalous thoughts. Glancing down at this flawless figure in the mirror, Nodoka pictured it being treated sointimatelyjust like what she'd partially sensed.
Her legs went weak, cheeks flushed.
"That wasn't me. That was Mai. This is Mai's body!"
She repeated to herself, trying to quell her confusion, even as certain vivid sensations refused to leave her memory.
After a while, draped in a bath towel, Toyohama Nodoka emerged from the bathroom. Noticing two girls asleep on the sofa, she found the situation even stranger: so many pretty women in one large home?
Her mind drifted to certain rumored dark sides of showbizrich patrons, shady deals She went pale, imagining Rei Ao as such a "young master of the underworld," and Mai caught in some unscrupulous arrangement. Should she flee?
But footsteps interrupted her thoughts. Rei Ao walked out of the bedroom, beckoning her.
"Come over here."
""
Toyohama Nodoka felt uneasy, edging backward. Part of her wanted to run from this place. Exceptshe saw another figure step out from behind Rei Ao.
At that moment, Nodoka's eyes went wide.
"That's!!!"
The face was unmistakably hers: Toyohama Nodoka's own face. But the expression was cooler, more composed than she'd ever worn herself. Because on the inside, it was Sakurajima Mai. That Mai also stared at the borrowed body, visibly curious.
After a pause, the girl in Nodoka's body said, in a frosty tone:
"Nodoka, let's talk."
Thus, with Mai's sudden arrival, Nodoka found herself back in what she saw as the "den of sin." The other women she so resented had dressed by now. Nodoka-in-Mai's-body and Mai-in-Nodoka's-body ended up seated face-to-face, as if in a mirror. Seeing her own familiar face on the opposite side, each of them went momentarily speechless.
But Mai, who'd faced many strange events already, recovered quickly, though her eyes flickered at first. She turned to Rei Ao with an even gaze:
"Tell me, did you do anything to Nodoka?"
Rei Ao shrugged:
"When we noticed something was off mid-way, we stopped. If you don't believe me, you can ask her directly."
"!!!"
Nodoka jolted:
"Wedidn't actually goall the way!"
She blurted it out before she could think, then froze. Why did I say that?!
Her mind conjured the scene, plus the foreign ache in this body, and she wanted to vanish.
""
Mai stayed silent. She could guess exactly what the scene must have been like at the timeand it made her want to die of embarrassment.
"Mai, you can't blame Rei Ao for this. You and Nodoka swapped bodies in the middle of everything, but he still stoppedpretty gentlemanly, if you ask me."
Tohru piped up, even pointing to her own mouth:
"In the end, I personally finished up for himotherwise you'd have left Rei Ao unsatisfied, y'know?"
"???"
Mai's expression darkened, face going black. Really, in front of people, must you talk like that?!
~~~
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(Bonus Chapter) Chapter 638: Another Puberty Syndrome...
Toyohama Nodoka heard Mai and Tohru's conversation and felt her head spinning.
She gulped and mumbled,
"Mai-sis, you and these peoplewhat exactly"
Her face was grim and pale, as if all her worst assumptions had just been confirmed.
"Could it be you really got caught in showbiz's shady deals? And that's why you quit the industry?"
"Huh?"
Mai was dumbfounded by Nodoka's suspicion.
What in the world?
Sensing Nodoka was jumping to wild conclusions, Mai hurriedly explained:
"Rei Ao-kun is my boyfriend and fianc. My mother knows about it too."
By stating her relationship outright, she cut off Nodoka's misinterpretation.
"W-what?"
Nodoka was once again shocked. Fianc? How come she never knew?
"Enough about that,"
Mai sighed, rubbing her temples to change the subject. There wasn't much she couldor wanted toexplain in front of Tohru and the others. Actually clarifying every detail would be a massive headache.
She then looked to Rei Ao:
"Rei Ao-kun, I assume you know why we ended up like this?"
"Of course."
With the talk back on track, Rei Ao got straight to the point:
"This is caused by Puberty Syndrome."
"Huh?!"
Both Futaba and Mai visibly reacted to that term, having previously experienced Puberty Syndrome themselves.
Mai frowned.
"I'd thought my Puberty Syndrome was over and done with. Why is it happening again?"
"No one's proven someone can't have it more than once, but this time the problem isn't with you."
Rei Ao gestured at Nodoka, who looked both embarrassed and guilty.
Mai understood:
"Soit's Nodoka's Puberty Syndrome?"
"Whatare you people talking about?"
Nodoka felt a gulf separating her from them. With a trace of exasperation, Mai began explaining Puberty Syndromehow a strong emotional desire can produce bizarre, supernatural effects.
"So, Nodoka, what feelings were so intense that you ended up in this situation?"
"I"
Nodoka was at a loss for words. Even if it sounded absurd, the evidence right before her eyes forced her to believe it. Tears rolled down her cheeks at last.
"I'm not sure I was in my room, and Mom said yet again how I don't measure up to you, Mai-sis. II just wished I could become youand then"
"Got itso you wanted to be Mai, and now you are."
Emilia clicked her tongue.
"Why is the world full of such weird phenomena?"
Ilia added:
"Futaba-senpai's dealt with it before."
"And this younger sister of Mai's," Tohru observed, blinking, "seems to really idolize her."
Suddenly, Tohru changed tack:
"Though at second glance, it's more envy or jealousy."
""
Nodoka bowed her head in shame, hands twisting in her lap. Tohru had nailed it. Mai sighed. She hadn't realized Nodoka's inferiority complex was this serious. Nodoka's mother was indeed strict, and constantly comparing her to Mai
Seeing Nodoka like this, Mai's heart softened. She gently embraced her:
"It's not your fault."
"Mai-sis"
Such warmth shattered Nodoka's last shred of self-control, and she burst into sobs. Nobody tried to stop her. Sometimes, venting was best. After all, that pent-up turmoil was precisely what had triggered her Puberty Syndrome.
While Mai patted Nodoka's back consolingly, she opened the chat app to message Rei Ao:
Sakurajima Mai: "Rei Ao-kun, you can make us switch back, right?"
Rei Ao: "Sure, that's pretty simple."
Rei Ao: "But I don't plan to do it."
He gave a meaningful smile.
Sakurajima Mai: "Huh?"
Frieren chimed in:
Frieren: "What's going on now? You're all up late chatting."
Rei Ao: "Aren't you up too?"
Frieren: "I'm researching new magic, obviously. But sounds like trouble on your end."
Rei Ao: "Not quite. Put simply, Mai and her cousin swapped souls."
Frieren: "Ah, soul stuff. Should be easy for you, though."
Rei Ao: "Indeed.
But I'm not going to forcibly fix it."
Mai blinked in confusion:
Sakurajima Mai: "Why not?"
Rei Ao, wearing an enigmatic expression:
Rei Ao: "I could forcibly erase this Puberty Syndromebut that wouldn't solve the deeper issues of your cousin's heart."
Sakurajima Mai: "Huh?"
Mai looked at him questioningly.
Rei Ao: "She admires you, but also envies and resents you. Let her personally experience what it's like to be Sakurajima Mai. That might untangle her insecurities."
""
It was clearly for Nodoka's own good, but Mai nonetheless glared suspiciously.
Sakurajima Mai: "You've got more than altruism in mind, right? Planning to lay hands on Nodoka?"
Rei Ao sighed dramatically:
Rei Ao: "You know me so well, Maiindeed, the woman most in sync with me."
Sakurajima Mai: "You!!!"
Rei Ao: "Calm down. Before you showed up, I'd already 'been with' Nodoka in your body. You can't expect me to leave someone I've been with to someone else, right?"
Tohru laughed:
"I get it'Don't let good water flow to another's field.'"
"Good one, Tohru,"
Rei Ao praised.
""
Mai was speechless. This guy was shameless. But in its twisted way, he had a point. Worse, she knew she couldn't stop him. After all, even her own mother approved of him.
Sakurajima Mai: "Hmph, do as you like. Then what about me?"
She wanted no part of going off to live in Nodoka's place.
Rei Ao: "Relax, I'll make Nodoka's mother temporarily forget about her. You can just stay at home."
""
Seeing Rei Ao already had everything figured out, Mai could only shoot him a fierce glare and remain silent. We
~~~
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Chapter 639: Teaching how to be Mai
Rei Ao: "Nodoka, since you'll be my future sister-in-law, there's no problem calling you that, right?"
"Eh?"
Rei Ao's words took Nodoka completely off guard. Her gaze flickered between Mai and Rei Ao; finally, she shyly, awkwardly nodded.
After all, if they really were an engaged couple, then indeed she'd be his future little sister-in-law. But somehowit just felt weird.
One part of her knew about the messy relationship among them; another part couldn't forget that she'd been wearing Mai's faceand also that she and Rei Ao had
Is this even okay?!
Rei Ao continued calmly:
"Nodoka, regarding your current situation, my suggestion is: keep calm and don't let others notice anything off. For now, just pretend you're Mai."
"Pretend to beMai-sis"
Nodoka lifted her head, fear shadowing her eyes.
"But how can I possibly do that? Mai-sis is so perfect; everyone praises her, and me"
""
Mai saw Nodoka's lack of confidence and forced a wry smile. She never realized how highly this cousin of hers thought of her. Though touched, she also felt a bit complicated.
Seeing Nodoka so anxious, Mai's gaze grew gentle. She reached out and held Nodoka's hand:
"It's not as impossible as you think. I'll help you. You're stronger than you realize."
Mai smiled softly:
"Plus, you're actually quite feminine, and you have more boldness in you than you give yourself credit for."
At these words, Nodoka's throat tightened. She never imagined Mai would say such things about her.
"So then"
Rei Ao chimed in with a slight laugh, standing up:
"Step one: you'll need to learn how to be Sakurajima Mai. First, start with postureMai never slouches."
Nodoka unconsciously squared her shoulders, attempting to imitate her sister's elegant, confident posture.
"And from here,"
Rei Ao continued,
"Mai will teach you personally."
Outside, the rain still poured, but inside the warm apartment, a peculiar "lesson" was underway. Nodoka didn't know how long this soul-swap would last, nor what challenges lay ahead.
But at that moment, she realized for the first time that becoming Sakurajima Mai wasn't as effortless as she'd imagined. And perhapsbeing herself wasn't necessarily so terrible either.
Next morning.
Sunlight, slanting through half-drawn curtains, cut a golden band across the living-room floor.
On the sofa, Vignette stirred. She felt something pressed against her waist. Slowly she opened her eyes, only to see Satania's face right in front of her, fast asleep. The red-haired demon even had a trace of drool glistening at the corner of her mouth.
"Mmph"
Vignette tried to shift away, only to realize Satania was tangled around her in a bizarre position, with one leg hiked over Vignette's waist. That white-sock-covered foot had somehow slipped under Vignette's pajama top, directly against her skin.
Vignette's cheeks heated. She gingerly grasped Satania's ankle, intending to move the wandering limb out from inside her clothes. Just as she freed that foot, she noticed Satania's right handresting at a rather questionable angle over Satania's own private area.
"Satania!"
Vignette nearly jumped up, slapping away that restless hand. Her sudden outburst made them both almost roll right off the narrow couch.
"Mmmfive more minutes"
Satania murmured, turning over, nearly pulling on Vignette's hair. Vignette took a deep breath, guilt washing over her.
"We really shouldn't have snooped"
She mumbled, hiding her face in her hands, recalling the very intimate noises from last night. For this well-meaning devil, the memory was so embarrassing she wanted to disappear.
"Satania, wake up!"
She nudged her friend's shoulder:
"We should head out before Rei Ao wakes"
Suddenly, the doorknob of the adjacent bedroom clicked. Vignette froze. She slowly turned her head and saw "Sakurajima Mai" emerge, rubbing her eyes.
"M-morning, Mai-senpai!"
Vignette exclaimed on reflex, voice trembling with nerves.
"Sakurajima Mai" stopped, blinked in confusion:
"Why call me Mai? I'm Nodoka"
She broke off mid-sentence, eyes widening in shock. Her gaze dropped to her bodylong legs, a full chest, and that overly grown-up silk nightgown. Instantly, memories of last night hit her like lightning.
"Waitthis wasn't a dream?!"
Nodoka whispered, horrified. She lifted her head to check around. Indeed, this wasn't her home. Last night, she'd gone to bed alongside Mai-sislearning how to "be Mai"yet now she was alone in the room.
An awful possibility struck her: if she and Mai truly swapped soulswhere was the real Maioccupying Nodoka's bodyright now?
Considering her cousin and Rei Ao were engaged, plus that last night's "couple's business" had been in progress when the swap occurred
"N-no way"
Nodoka's lips quivered, a terrifying notion flashing across her mind. Without minding Vignette's puzzled stare or the newly-woken Satania, she dashed toward the master bedroom in two strides.
Vignette had no clue why Nodoka was so flustered; she simply followed behind as Nodoka yanked the door open.
Inside the main bedroom, Rei Ao was leaning against the headboard, apparently just awakened. Around him, besides Futaba and others who were dozing, was "Toyohama Nodoka" nestling on his shoulder. Or more accurately, that was Sakurajima Mai occupying Nodoka's body, wearing Nodoka's pajamas.
