Ling Qing took her hand away.
He placed it against the stone pier, along with the butterfly.
He asked the question he most wanted to ask: "Mai, are you ready now?"
Mai realized what he meant.
She pursed her lips, her eyes flickering as she gritted her teeth: "Not yet."
Ling Qing also noticed that she seemed to have some concerns.
"Tell me what you're worried about?"
“……”
Mai lowered her head.
"I... I'm worried that one day I'll really disappear and won't be able to respond to your affection."
Yes.
She was afraid that one day she would truly become someone Ling Qing wouldn't remember.
"So that's it, huh?"
Ling Qing's lips curled into a smile.
"Then we just have to solve that, right?"
He kissed Mai's forehead.
A flash of light shone.
He bestowed upon her his own protection.
"Hm?!"
Mai also realized that something had changed in her body.
A powerful force surged through her body.
A pair of sparkling, translucent earrings appeared beneath her ears.
Crimson dragon scales appeared on her arms and cheeks.
"What is this?!"
Mai was shocked by her transformation.
【Name】：Sakurajima Mai
【Level】：3
【Abilities】： "Dragon Power", "Cognitive Disappearance", "Ling Qing's Protection", "Innate Spirit Armor · Void Star"
"Dragon Power": The body gains the power of a dragon.
"Innate Spirit Armor · Void Star": Earring-shaped spirit armor that can erase the existence of objects.
These would make her stronger.
But the most important thing right now was Cognitive Disappearance.
"Now you've received my protection, you should understand what's happened to you."
“……”
Mai looked at the dragon scales on her arm.
With a thought.
The scales receded following her thoughts.
There was also an instinctive feeling of being able to restore someone's cognition at any time.
"Don't think about testing your abilities right now."
Ling Qing saw her attempt and stopped her.
"If you want to be discovered by Kashiwazaki right now, that is."
Ling Qing raised an eyebrow towards one side, gesturing.
“！！！”
Mai only then remembered that Kashiwazaki was still there.
She hurriedly abandoned her idea of restoring her cognition.
She looked at Ling Qing with a mixture of emotions.
"So you already have a way to restore my cognition."
"To be honest, I'm not sure about this method."
After all, protection on an individual's evolution is uncontrolled.
He only knew that it was all determined by his abilities and the individual's own being.
Even he didn't know if Mai's puberty syndrome could truly evolve.
Now it seems that her own abilities and Ling Qing's abilities do indeed have a significant impact.
Not only did Mai's abilities evolve.
She also acquired abilities corresponding to his Crimson Dragon God and Innate Spirit Armor.
This was quite a pleasant surprise.
He just wondered if Sae and Shoubu could change as well.
If not, he would lose a fortune.
Everything needs to be researched after seeing them again.
Right now, the Mai in front of him is more important.
"No more worries, are you ready now, Mai?"
Ling Qing asked again.
"Ugh!!!"
The tip entered.
Mai felt like she could be swallowed at any moment.
Now, the last of her concerns disappeared.
And it was the person she liked in front of her who made it happen.
Mai's heart also swelled with a lot of emotion and love that she wanted to express.
It was endless.
She understood that only through communication could she convey this feeling.
Her hair cascaded down, her chin resting on Ling Qing's shoulder, she asked softly.
"She... She really won't notice?"
This change in attitude made Ling Qing smile.
"Don't you trust me?"
"I do... But... It's still so weird."
"So you agree? Then here I come."
"Hey? Wait! Ugh!"
…
"This bento... whose is it?"
After finishing the delicious bento.
Kashiwazaki stared at the lunchbox in her hand.
Is this hers?
It feels like she can't remember.
She remembers that she was talking to someone before.
But looking around the rooftop.
Apart from the iron railing that was rattling loudly, there was no one else there.
Wait!
Kashiwazaki stared at the violently shaking iron railing, her face turning pale.
There's not even a breath of wind, why is it shaking so much?!
She immediately thought of all kinds of urban legends about the rooftop.
Kashiwazaki was scared.
She quickly put away her lunchbox and ran away from the rooftop.
Mai, who was leaning against the railing, muttered resentfully: "You... You said she wouldn't see."
Ling Qing, who was teasing her, chuckled and said: "Haha, I lied to you, Mai, Kashiwazaki can see all along."
"!!!"
As expected, Mai reacted strongly to these words.
Ling Qing had unlocked the correct way to use Kashiwazaki.
The wind on the rooftop was unusually boisterous that noon.
The iron railing could bear witness.
…
PS: This is Sakurajima Mai!