Chapter 38: Academic Research with Mai!
The HoYoMix team spent practically the entire weekend working.
To improve efficiency, Saku bought quite a bit of professional equipment for the house and even upgraded his computer.
The place itself underwent some changes too.
By the time everything was set up, his home had begun to resemble a small game studio, just a very domestic version of one.
During the weekend, Saku also had Utaha and Michiru fill out their club membership applications and sign confidentiality agreements, formally making them members of the club.
That had already been agreed upon earlier.
Due to a few unexpected developments, however, Yukino and Megumi ended up joining as well.
Once that happened, Mai and Saki immediately became unhappy.
Everyone else was officially part of the same group while the two of them remained outsiders.
How could they possibly accept that?
In the end, Saku simply added both of them to the club too.
He didn't impose any strict requirements regarding club activities.
Everyone attended different schools anyway, so he would simply treat them as participating by default.
As long as they obtained the necessary participation documentation, it shouldn't interfere with earning their school credits.
...
On Sunday evening, Mai prepared to leave after dinner.
Before she could go, however, Saku stopped her.
"Hmph."
The moment they entered his room, Mai sat on his bed without the slightest restraint and looked at him resentfully.
"I thought Saku-kun only had eyes for his game project now."
"Why are you suddenly taking the initiative to spend time with me?"
Mai knew perfectly well that Saku had been busy with something important.
Still, she'd finally managed to come over for two whole days, yet the two of them hadn't had any proper time alone together.
For someone still very much in the honeymoon phase of a relationship, that was difficult to accept.
Especially when Mai's free time was so precious.
"Sorry."
Saku immediately admitted his mistake.
"I really did neglect you. You finally had time to come over, and I didn't do anything with you."
"At least you understand."
Mai's irritation faded slightly after seeing his sincere attitude.
But she still lifted one black-stockinged foot and lightly pressed it against Saku's chest as he approached.
"So how are you going to make it up to me?"
Looking at her expression, Saku wasn't dense enough to miss the implication.
He stepped forward, wrapped an arm around her waist, and gently eased her backward onto the bed.
「Seriously, pretending to be boyfriend and girlfriend isn't something you should do casually. It's way too easy for the act to become real.」
「Mai-senpai must have gotten too immersed in the role. She doesn't even want to pull away anymore.」
「And apparently I can't bring myself to refuse either. Whatever. I'll just let things develop naturally. It's not like I'm losing anything.」
Saku was already naturally handsome.
His face was sharp and well-defined, with strong brows and striking eyes. Even without makeup, he looked better than plenty of male celebrities who relied on it.
Mai wasn't someone who cared only about looks, but appreciating beauty was simply human nature.
More importantly, Saku wasn't merely handsome.
He was extraordinarily capable too.
Mai wasn't made of stone.
Of course she would eventually develop feelings for him.
Still...
They were already embracing, so why was his head still filled with so much nonsense?
'You think you're not going to lose anything?'
'Too late.'
'You're definitely losing this one.'
If the mountain wouldn't come to her, then she would simply go to the mountain.
Saku always seemed to stop just short of taking the next step.
So Mai decided to attack first.
She leaned forward and kissed him.
It was their first real kiss, so she took it very seriously, almost like a scholar testing knowledge she'd only ever encountered in books.
Reality quickly proved that neither of them was particularly experienced.
There were awkward moments and clumsy mistakes at first, but once they gradually found the right rhythm, things became much more natural.
「This is bad. My possessiveness suddenly shot through the roof.」
「What am I supposed to do if Mai has a kissing scene in a movie someday? I don't think I'd be okay with that at all.」
Utaha: '(ΩДΩ) Wait, what are you two doing behind everyone's backs?!'
Michiru: '(｀・ω・´) Maybe I shouldn't be staying in this house right now?'
Saki: '（┭┮﹏┭┮）It's over! Someone broke into my home base!'
Megumi: 'This is... surprisingly exciting! (#^.^#)'
Yukino: '...Could you PLEASE stop commenting on this inside your head?! I don't want to hear it! Ε＝ε＝ε＝(#＞д＜)ﾉ'
"Mai-senpai..."
Saku had barely spoken when Mai pressed a slender finger against his lips.
"Just call me Mai."
"All right, Mai."
Saku paused.
"Actually, I called you upstairs because I had something important to discuss."
Mai's cheeks were still flushed, the lingering warmth from moments earlier hadn't faded, and her whole body felt incredibly hot.
"Doesn't this count as something important?"
"..."
「Mai, you're not normally like this. Please regain some common sense!」
「Right now, it's like your intelligence has suddenly dropped several levels.」
Saku was actually feeling quite swept up himself, and even his hands had begun to roam somewhat uncontrollably.
Fortunately, Saku forcibly stopped any further exploration.
Although Mai was already an adult, and having s*x with her would be fine, Saku didn't want to take away her most precious thing at a moment like this—hastily, without any preparation.
So, he was the first to let go and withdraw from the embrace.
"Mai, I have something for you."
Feeling Saku release her, Mai felt a small pang of disappointment, but also inexplicably happy. Because she felt respect and understanding.
If it were someone else, they would probably have gone ahead and explored every inch of her in this situation.
Wanting to know her inside and out was what a normal person would think. And she could feel that Saku was already eager to act.
But he hadn't indulged himself, nor had he rushed into an "academic research" session with her, and that made Mai like him even more.
Because she knew she hadn't chosen the wrong person.
While Mai sat up and straightened the clothes that had become rumpled, Saku retrieved something and sat beside her again.
"This is the gift?"
Mai had expected jewelry or something similarly special.
Instead...
It was a stack of paper.
"Sort of."
Saku handed it over.
"They're movie scripts I wrote whenever I had some spare time."
"Consider them my gift to you. I couldn't think of anything else suitable."
If he bought something cheap, it wouldn't properly express how much he valued her.
If he bought something expensive, he couldn't afford it.
So Saku decided a script was far more practical.
Besides, he'd already promised to help increase Mai's popularity.
Livestreaming and short videos could improve public goodwill and generate attention, but those things alone could never truly define an actor.
In the end, actors were remembered because of their work.
If Mai were a little older, Saku would've seriously considered bringing out scripts like Unnatural or Legal High.
For now, those weren't the best fit.
So he chose manga-adapted films instead.
The two gifts he'd prepared were Your Name and I Want to Eat Your Pancreas.
"TV dramas are actually better for increasing your nationwide recognition."
Saku explained seriously.
"Movies aren't quite as effective in that respect, but they're better for raising your standing as an actress."
"Considering your age and my situation right now, I can only give you movie scripts first."
"When I have more time later, I'll write TV dramas for you too."
Mai accepted the scripts with trembling hands, caught somewhere between surprise and emotion.
She skimmed through both.
Of the two, she preferred Your Name.
Two people saving one another, a conclusion that left room for imagination, laughter mixed with tears...
It lingered beautifully after the ending.
The other script was far more painful.
Especially its almost absurd conclusion.
It left Mai unsure whether she was supposed to feel happy or angry. She didn't particularly like that sense of powerlessness and abruptness.
Still, its central message about cherishing the present and valuing the people beside you genuinely moved her.
"Thank you."
Mai held the scripts carefully.
"I really like them."
"That's good."
Saku nodded.
"If you have the resources, assemble the project yourself and make the movie."
"If that's not practical, use the script as leverage in a deal and negotiate a profit share."
Mai watched him seriously explaining everything, then suddenly smiled.
Before Saku could react, she leaned over and kissed him again.
Several minutes later, Mai finally pulled away and lightly pressed her lips together.
"I've decided."
"I'll make Your Name first."
"I already gave both scripts to you."
Saku smiled helplessly.
"Whichever one you want to make is your decision."
"That's true."
Mai nodded, then suddenly remembered something.
"Oh, right. Saku-kun, what's your bank account number?"
Saku looked confused.
"Why do you need that?"
"Idiot."
Seeing that he genuinely didn't understand, Mai shook her head.
"Obviously because I'm going to give you money."
"You've already helped me this much. Even if we ignore the results, you've put in more than enough work."
She looked at him seriously.
"I can't just earn money from everything you give me and pretend none of it belongs to you."
"So from now on, whenever something you've given me earns money, I'll give you a share."
Mai smiled.
"That way, our relationship can last for a very, very long time."
...