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"Who are you?"
Mahiru Shiina spun around, her back pressing against the streetlight. A guarded look flashed across her pretty face.
"How do you know my name?"
Blake raised an eyebrow. "Shiina… can't you see?"
They were classmates. Even if they'd never talked, they saw each other every day. There was no way she shouldn't recognize him.
And she'd just walked straight into a streetlight…
So she really couldn't see?
A side effect of stopping time?
That sounded way more dangerous than turning into a catgirl.
"I-I'm not blind…" Mahiru denied it quickly, but the guilt on her face gave her away completely.
Everyone knew that out of the five senses, vision took up over eighty percent of how humans perceive the world. The rest barely added up in comparison.
No matter how calm and composed Mahiru usually was, she was still just a sixteen-year-old girl. Losing her sight all of a sudden… of course she was panicking inside.
"I'm Blake. I sit in the back row, by the door."
Seeing the unease and helplessness on her face, Blake didn't tease her. He introduced himself instead.
"Ah…" Mahiru let out a quiet breath, the tension on her face easing slightly. Her caramel-colored eyes turned toward him, though they clearly couldn't focus. "You're Anna's childhood friend?"
"Just call me Blake."
"Blake…" Mahiru pressed her soft lips together, then tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Her voice steadied again, returning to that calm, composed tone. "I just zoned out earlier, that's why I bumped into the streetlight. You don't need to worry."
Even with a classmate, she kept her guard up. Trust didn't come easily to her.
"If there's nothing else, could you head home? I'd like to rest for a bit."
Her hands folded neatly in front of her stomach, a flawless smile appearing on her face. Gentle, polite… and completely fake. Like she'd put on an angel's mask and hidden everything real underneath.
Blake was silent for two seconds before speaking softly.
"I saw it."
Mahiru's smile didn't falter. "Saw what?"
"You stopped time just now and saved that mother and daughter from the falling sign."
"…!"
Her perfect smile finally cracked. Her lips parted slightly, eyes widening in shock. The expression was so unguarded it was almost… cute.
"But that's impossible. Everyone else clearly—"
"There are always exceptions in this world," Blake said. "Like you, who can stop time. So it's not strange that I could see it. Actually, I met someone like you not long ago. A girl who can talk to cats like it's nothing."
Of course, he left out the black cat's identity. Privacy mattered.
"So I'm not the only one…"
Mahiru pressed her lips together again, but instead of feeling down, she looked a little… relieved. Even happy.
She didn't want to rule the world or use her power for anything bad. If anything, the side effects of stopping time were a huge headache.
Knowing she wasn't alone like this… it felt like finding someone from the same world.
"I can cure your eyes," Blake added.
"…Really?" Her long hair trembled slightly. Even though she tried to hold it back, a mix of nervousness and hope still showed on her face.
"Of course. I'm not lying. I actually helped that 'cat witch' earlier today."
He explained everything, including how magical power needed regular purification.
"I see…" There was clear anticipation in her voice now. "Then… please, Blake."
The last two times she'd stopped time, she lost her sense of taste for a full twenty-four hours. If her vision worked the same way, she'd be blind for an entire day.
Just imagining it was terrifying. If she could get her sight back sooner, there was no way she'd refuse.
Blake cleared his throat. "There's one more thing I should mention…"
"What is it?"
"Purifying magic requires physical contact. And it can't be through clothing."
"…!"
Mahiru's eyes widened, a flush spreading quickly across her pale, delicate face.
What did he mean, not through clothing?
Was he saying she had to… take everything off?
No way.
She hadn't even held a boy's hand before. There was no way she'd agree to something like that!
"Don't get the wrong idea," Blake said quickly, cutting off her thoughts. "A handshake is enough. Nothing more."
Mahiru quietly let out a breath of relief, though a hint of hesitation still lingered on her face.
If it involved hugs or kisses, she would've refused without hesitation. She'd rather endure the blindness alone than let him take advantage of her.
But just holding hands… that was different.
After a few seconds of hesitation, she asked softly, "How long will it take?"
Blake thought back to earlier that day. "At most, ten minutes."
"That's fine…"
Mahiru took a deep breath, then bowed decisively.
"Please help me purify the magic."
"You agreed that fast?" Blake looked at her in surprise.
I mean, sure, it's just holding hands… but still. Shouldn't you hesitate a little more?
Mahiru straightened, her voice gentle. "Blake is a good person…"
They'd never even spoken before. Don't go handing out good person cards so casually.
"During P.E. today, Yanami talked a lot about your childhood," she continued. "She kept saying how kind and attentive you were."
…So this was all thanks to his gluttonous childhood friend.
"And besides…"
A sweet smile suddenly appeared on Mahiru's face, but her tone turned strangely dangerous.
"If you try anything weird, I'll stop time immediately… and smash you to pieces."
A drop of cold sweat slid down Blake's forehead. "What exactly does 'smash' mean?"
Mahiru smiled at him. "It means making a certain part of your body… permanently unusable."
That's enough. Don't smile while saying something that terrifying!
What happened to the angel everyone talks about? You're clearly a little devil!
"Don't worry," Blake said flatly. "You are cute, but not worth ruining the rest of my life for. Anyway, it's getting late and I've got things to do… should we start?"
"Please…"
Her fair, jade-like face flushed faintly as she shyly extended her right hand.
"....."