After breaking up, my ex asked me to win her back

The barefoot Shrine Maiden ascended the stage.

Although called a Shrine Maiden, she was not wearing the Shrine Maiden Attire; instead, she donned a beautiful red kimono that appeared somewhat large on her petite frame.

Her hair was not put up, but naturally cascaded down.

Wearing a fox-patterned mask, her face was obscured.

Her bare feet, clear and pure as jade, made almost no sound as they touched the clean wooden floor.

Without needing much confirmation, Kagura Hikaru immediately recognized that it was Komori Ai.

Following that, a sudden and inexplicable palpitation emerged within him—as if his heart was struck by a hammer, conjuring feelings of reverence, admiration, and joy.

It was like a child seeing their mother, a knight seeing their king, a sword clashing with a shield.

His heartbeat quickened dramatically.

This was clearly not an emotion that arose naturally; realizing this within a second, Kagura Hikaru forcefully pinched his own thigh to calm himself.

He glanced at the people around him with the corner of his eye.

The other thirty-something Prospective Believers invited here were all staring at the Shrine Maiden on the stage, some in a daze, some excited, all revealing an unstable state, unconsciously applauding.

Even though they should have all been seeing Komori Ai for the first time, they exhibited the exact same reactions.

It seemed his guess was right, the human blood mixed in the honey had established some unknown connection between them and Komori Ai.

They, like Kagura Hikaru, had eaten that honey.

Even including Ms. Kurosaki standing at the very edge and Master Tanaka on stage, their expressions were similar, full of admiration when looking at Komori Ai.

This is what surprised Kagura Hikaru the most.

Ms. Kurosaki, presumably just a missionary, crudely put, a bottom-tier in the cult, it was normal for her not to know the truth.

But why was even the esteemed Sect Hierarch so excited?

Among all those present, only Ayakoji Chiyoko remained unswayed, focusing intently on the new figure appearing on the stage.

"Everyone, this is our revered Shrine Maiden and Human God of the Happiness Cult, Great Shrine Maiden Serizawa Mai," the Sect Hierarch respectfully bowed to the Shrine Maiden and then sternly addressed the crowd, "The Great Shrine Maiden holds the power to control the Beautiful Dream, bestowing happiness upon everyone. Our Happiness Cult exists for her, and our ideals will ultimately be realized because of the Great Shrine Maiden."

Shrine Maiden: "..."

An unusually silent Shrine Maiden, her gaze unflinching, stood dignified on the stage like a puppet.

Is this really Komori Ai?

For a moment, Kagura Hikaru even doubted himself.

Based on his brief interactions with Komori Ai, if it were a normal situation, she would definitely not be so well-behaved, perhaps laughing mischievously and pretending to flap her wings onstage.

At the very least, she would be lively, waving cheerfully.

Such a childish-personality individual would never appear so 'mature and composed,' remaining silent.

Whether it was truly her, mind-reading would reveal.

Kagura Hikaru activated his ability without hesitation.

"I once was a bird, now I am a tree!"@@novelbin@@

"I once was a bird, now I am a tree!"

"I once was a bird, now I am a tree!"

"You have gained through peering into the heart: Origami+3"

"Origami lv4 (95/100)"

Some unusual, grotesque images followed closely.

A woman, pushed into a pit full of scars, a hanging male silhouette, a bloody coarse rope.

An absolute madness, completely exemplary.

It was indeed her.

"Great Shrine Maiden, please perform a miracle and let us foolish lambs feel your grace,"

Master Tanaka respectfully said.

Komori Ai nodded stiffly, looked down at the crowd below, and silently stretched out her hand.

An invisible wind blew by.

Colorless and tasteless, it seemed like a breeze blowing into one's heart.

Kagura Hikaru knew what Komori Ai was doing, but he felt nothing specific.

Her ability was activated as silently as mind-reading, catching one completely off-guard.

Unfortunately, it had no effect on him.

Lies, deceit, disguise—after learning the truth, these concepts were nonexistent to him; thus, he was not deceived by Komori Ai's ability.

As for others besides Kagura Hikaru, they were not so lucky.

Without exception, their eyes became confused, their expressions blank, and they slightly bowed their heads as they sat and entered a hypnotic state.

It was similar to actual hypnosis, not changing cognition unconsciously. Komori Ai probably made everyone in the audience believe they were dreaming, and it was Kagura Hikaru's first encounter with this form of ability.

Ms. Kurosaki and Master Tanaka on stage were not affected, as Komori Ai seemed to consciously avoid them.

But those two even seemed somewhat disappointed.

Komori Ai on the stage lowered her hands, but then seemed to realize something, tilting her mask slightly downward as she made eye contact with someone below.

She appeared to recognize Kagura Hikaru, quietly raising her hand and giving a 'yeah' sign.

For Master Tanaka, who was continuously watching her, Komori Ai's action was too conspicuous. He immediately shifted his gaze downwards, searching for where Komori Ai's eyes landed.

To avoid detection, Kagura Hikaru quickly lowered his head, pretending to be dreaming like the others.

After about ten seconds, when he no longer felt the scrutinizing gaze, Kagura Hikaru opened his eyes.

He didn't know how long the others' dreaming would last. For Kagura Hikaru, this time was both tedious and hard. He slightly turned his head to check on Ayakoji Chiyoko's condition.

She sat next to him, her head slightly bowed and her expression grave, startling Kagura Hikaru.

Ayakoji Chiyoko rarely smiled, at least not around others.

Sometimes an ice queen, sometimes a selective man-eater, neither associated with smiles.

But in her dream, Ayakoji Chiyoko smiled—broad and... sick.

Sick, that was the only word he could find appropriate, as Kagura Hikaru couldn't think of a better description.

Though she was smiling, it was a distorted, horrifying smile.

It was nothing like what humans could produce, terrifying enough to give Kagura Hikaru goosebumps all over his body.

What kind of beautiful dream was this, what beautiful dream would make one smile like that!

Ayakoji Chiyoko showed a radically different demeanor from what he remembered, and it was not the first time.

Including forgiving him nonchalantly, showing up at his front door on her own, and following him to the Happiness Cult headquarters against orders.

Kagura Hikaru grew increasingly uneasy, worried whether she had been possessed by something unclean without his knowledge.

Concern gradually transformed into uncontrollable curiosity.

He had been resisting the urge to spy on Ayakoji Chiyoko's privacy, but now he could no longer hold back.

Kagura Hikaru stealthily watched Ayakoji Chiyoko, tentatively reading the mind of her dreaming self.

"Now you are mine, belonging only to me."

"Belonging to me alone, my exclusive...."

"This feeling, is this happiness?"

"You have gained through inner vision: Judo +3"

"Judo lv4 (92/100)"

Images corresponding to the mind-reading promptly followed.

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Kagura Hikaru saw himself.

A person identical to him lay in an oversized adult baby crib, obviously mentally immature, sucking on his finger, eyes widened with curiosity about the outside world.

Outside the crib, a giant Ayakoji Chiyoko figure, over three times larger than in reality, gently rocked the crib, gazing down at Kagura Hikaru with a maternal look, eyes intense as if they could stare forever.

Instantly feeling a chill, Kagura Hikaru immediately turned off the mind-reading, his back drenched in cold sweat.

...What?