287 Im About to Go on a Spiritual Journey (1/2)

”Allow me to explain, Houjou-san,” Saki said. ”Feel free to ask Mayuzumi about the details.”

Shouhei Hirai was a handsome, relatively popular guy in college. He fell in love with Mayuzumi and attempted to woo her, but Mayuzumi didn't have any feelings for him and rejected his advances politely.

Another boy was also attempting to woo Mayuzumi, and Shouhei ended up coming into conflict with his love rival.

Afterwards, most likely due to his anger and frustration, Shouhei blindly believed some unfounded rumors and misunderstood the type of person Mayuzumi was. Not only did he viciously shout at her in front of many people, he even did some rather rude things to her.

Mayuzumi was frightened by this and started ignoring him.

Shouhei later learned that he had been mistaken and regretted his actions. He apologized to Mayuzumi and sincerely asked for her forgiveness.

Mayuzumi forgave him, but she still remained distant from and avoided him.

Shouhei saw that there was no hope for him anymore, so he gave up, and, a few weeks later, he hooked up with a different girl in another class.

After graduating from college, Mayuzumi hadn't seen Shouhei again—until the day of the school festival, that was...

”And from the second night of the school festival, Mayuzumi was plagued with nightmares,” Saki said, concluding the story. ”Is this related to Hirai in any way?”

When she heard Saki's question, Mai looked towards the manga author, and her eyes flickered briefly. It was evident to Seiji that she had just cast Astral Vision.

”I don't see any sign of a curse upon Milady Amami… but I can't say definitively that it's unrelated to him,” she said after examining Mai for a while. ”Is this all the information you have on him?”

Saki nodded.

”Understood,” Mai said curtly. ”I shall now begin tracking down this person, and, when I find him, I'll deal with him. Wait for my news.”

After saying this she left, she left.

Seiji, Mayuzumi, and Saki exchanged awkward glances after Mai left.

”We can stay here, or wait somewhere else,” Seiji suggested. ”Let's not go back to Sensei's home for the time being, because we might get attacked again.”

”Let's go to my home then,” Saki offered.

”No, if we're discovered and there's another fight, your home will be trashed.” Seiji mulled over the options. ”I think that going to a hotel and booking a temporary room would be better. Alternatively, we could just go shopping or have fun somewhere else… we can treat this as a vacation!” He started smiling.

Mayuzumi and Saki both blinked in surprise at this.

'Treating it as a vacation…' This made it feel more relaxing for them as well, and both women began smiling.

”Sensei, why don't you decide where to go? I'm the bodyguard, and no matter where you and Editor Yoshizawa want to go, I'll accompany you.”

”No need to say that; I'm more than happy to help Sensei.” Seiji smiled.

Faced with his gentle smile, the manga author's heartbeat quickened once again.

Although she was previously frightened by the attack, all the nervousness and anxiety in her heart seemed to have magically disappeared.

'Where should I go with Seiji and Saki?' Mayuzumi asked herself.

...

Mika's phone started ringing, and, when she saw it was from Seiji, she answered the call.

”Hey, Seigo, where did you go?” she asked.

When she knocked on his door in the morning to go to school together, Shika told her that he'd set out early in the early hours of the morning to do something somewhere. When Mika tried calling him, he didn't pick up and only sent her a message saying that he would contact her later.

”I'm about to go on a spiritual journey,” Seiji told her.

'Spiritual journey!?' The double pigtailed girl was shocked by this.

”Some things happened, so I won't be going to class today. I'll give you an explanation later, and there's no need to worry.”

These words… and this type of situation... made her feel a sense of déjà vu!

”Hey! Seigo, could it be that…”

”The monorail is here! I'm getting on now, gotta go.”

Monorail?

Was he really going on some type of trip!? Mika was absolutely stunned.

Meanwhile, Seiji, Mayuzumi, and Saki boarded the monorail and found some empty seats to sit down in.

Saki brought out a deck of poker cards and put them on a table. Seiji brought out some snacks and drinks and put them on the table as well.

It was time to have some fun!

Not long after, the monorail began moving.

The monorail began driving off while the three of them idly played cards.

Their destination was the ocean, which was what Mayuzumi wanted to go see. It obviously was out of season to go visit the ocean at such a time of year.

But since Mayuzumi wished to do so, Saki and Seiji would naturally accompany her.