After about five minutes, Janne finally broke the silence. "Finished with your thinking?" she asked, her voice gentle and curious.
"Yeah," Satoru replied simply. As if something had suddenly dawned on him, he looked at her and asked, "Can you share your story with me? Why am I your first friend? Didn't you have any other friends before? I mean no offense."
Janne's smile faltered slightly, and she looked away, her fingers tracing the edge of her teacup.
"It's... complicated," she began.
"I've been alone for a long time, not by choice, but because of circumstances. You see, Astralsya is a grand academy within the Seraphius Empire, a place filled with opportunities and challenges. Despite all its grandeur, it's easy to feel isolated here."
She paused, collecting her thoughts.
"The Seraphius Empire is vast and powerful, with few rivals. Astralsya, being one of the top academies, attracts many, but it also means that people here are often focused on their ambitions, leaving little room for genuine connections. I've spent my time here excelling in my studies and training, but meaningful friendships have eluded me."
Satoru listened intently, feeling a mix of empathy and curiosity. He had gathered bits of information about this new world and its vastness.
Astralsya, a significant academy within the powerful Seraphius Empire, was evidently a place of both opportunity and loneliness.
Janne continued, her voice softer now, "When I saw you, something felt different. Maybe it was the way you seemed out of place, just like I felt when I first arrived. I wanted to reach out, to help, and maybe, in doing so, find some companionship for myself too."
Satoru nodded, understanding the weight of her words. "Thank you for sharing that with me. I appreciate your honesty and your trust."
Janne looked up, her eyes meeting his, and smiled. "Thank you for listening. It feels good to finally talk about it with someone."
As they sat in the cozy interior of Janne's home, the bond between them began to grow, forged through shared experiences and mutual understanding.
The journey ahead in this new world was still uncertain, but at least now, they had each other.
Noticing the slight unease in Janne's eyes, Satoru became more thoughtful.
"You're still hiding something, aren't you?" he suddenly said.
"E-eh!?" Janne stammered, clearly taken aback. Satoru had hit the mark.
"I've been thinking," he continued. "When we first met, you sat directly in front of me, resting your chin on your hand, not seeming worried that I might find it annoying. That doesn't quite match the cautious side of your personality. And when our eyes met, your first reaction was... surprise?"
He paused, watching her closely. "Then, when we stood up to leave, I noticed the way some strangers were looking at us. Or more accurately, at me. They didn't seem to be looking at you at all. It was almost as if they were deliberately ignoring you, or... maybe they couldn't even see you?"
A suffocating silence followed Satoru's words.
"You're a perceptive one, aren't you?" Janne finally spoke after a long pause.
"Just as you guessed, others can't see me. So when you saw me, I was both thrilled and surprised," Janne admitted.
"But I'm not a ghost. This all happens because of..." Janne paused suddenly.
"Do you know what a Blessed Curse is?" she asked.
With a complex expression on his face, Satoru took in the torrent of new information. Yet, despite his bewilderment, he shook his head and replied, "I'm afraid I don't know."
Janne's expression grew somber as she spoke, "Blessed Curse… It's hard to say whether it's a curse or a blessing. For me, it's been a tormenting curse."
She continued, "In essence, Blessed Curse grants you immortality. But don't be fooled into thinking that's a good thing. The price you pay is that you become invisible to the eyes of the world."
Satoru was profoundly shaken by Janne's revelation, but he chose to remain silent, allowing her to continue.
Janne took a deep breath before continuing, her voice tinged with a mixture of resignation and melancholy.
"The term 'invisible' doesn't just mean I'm out of sight. It means that as soon as any living being's gaze falls upon me, I cease to exist in every conceivable sense. When I'm observed, I no longer have a physical presence. I can no longer interact with objects—I cannot pick up a book or open a door. Instead, my body simply passes through physical matter. I don't need to open doors; I can walk straight through them. My hand can even pass through another person's body."
"But when I'm not being observed," Janne continued, her voice softening, "I can interact with objects just like a regular person..."
Suddenly, she extended her hand and gently grasped Satoru's hand. "But it seems that you are an exception," she said, her eyes meeting his with a hint of wonder.
She paused, her eyes reflecting the weight of her words. "In Astralsya, no one can see me, no matter how much I try to attract their attention. That's why, back in the Glorious Archive, I could so freely appear before you and watch you."
A hint of a smile touched her lips as she concluded, "Naturally, when I discovered that you could see me, I didn't know whether to feel overjoyed or perplexed."
"Of course, what I said earlier was also true," Janne quickly added.
"I really did train hard, and when I saw you, I couldn't help but find you both strange and different, almost as if I was looking at a reflection of myself from the past."
Satoru stood in stunned silence, overwhelmed by the flood of information that seemed to engulf him. His mind raced, struggling to find the right words.
With a wry smile and a glint of amusement in her eyes, Janne leaned closer.
"What's wrong? Lost for words?" Her voice carried a playful edge, the kind that hinted at both empathy and a touch of mischief.
Satoru asked, his voice tinged with concern, "You must feel very lonely and sad, don't you?"
Janne's eyes softened, and she nodded slightly.
"To say otherwise would be a lie," she admitted quietly, her voice carrying a note of resignation and vulnerability.
Satoru asked, his expression reflecting his concern, "When did you first fall victim to the Blessed Curse?"
Janne responded with a wistful tone, "Ah, that's a story from a long time ago."
Janne's expression grew reflective as she continued, "To be honest, I'm not entirely sure how I came to have the Blessed Curse. As far as I remember, it must have been when I was around five years old."
Janne's expression abruptly changed, as if a forgotten memory had resurfaced.
"Oh, and you might not have known this," she said, her voice carrying a hint of quiet pride. "I am, in fact, the eldest daughter of the esteemed Marianna family."
"Ah? Your family must be quite influential, then?" said Satoru, his curiosity piqued.
"Yes, indeed," Janne replied with a touch of gravity.
"We can be considered among the top three families within the Seraphius Empire."
"Given your status as the eldest daughter of such a distinguished family, it must be exceptionally grievous to be afflicted with the Blessed Curse," said Satoru, his tone imbued with concern.
"I wouldn't know," Janne admitted, her voice tinged with a trace of sorrow.
"Since I was afflicted with the Blessed Curse, I haven't returned home. I feared that dwelling on the past would consume me, and I dreaded living under the shadow of never having my family's companionship. So, adhering to the philosophy that enduring long-term pain is worse than brief suffering, I left swiftly."
"So, what about this cabin?" said Satoru, his curiosity reignited.
"Ah, this cabin is something I built myself," Janne said, her tone imbued with a hint of pride.
"You're quite impressive," Satoru remarked.
A silence followed.
Although the topic had shifted to a lighter subject, Satoru could sense that discussing these various memories must be painful for Janne, despite her outward composure.
"Would you mind giving me a tour of your home?" Satoru asked, his curiosity evident.
And, it was clear that Satoru wanted to shift the conversation and give Janne a chance to divert her focus.
Janne had just begun to feel the sting of past memories once more when Satoru's sudden question interrupted her.
"Hmm? Oh, sure!" she responded, quickly reverting to the Janne he knew—bright and cheerful, with a penchant for smiling.
The two stood up from the sofa and walked over to the staircase on the left.
"Actually, there's not much to see on the first floor—just a small kitchen and a cozy seating area. So, let's head straight to the second floor," Janne said, guiding the way.
Upon reaching the second floor, they stopped outside a door.
"This is my room," Janne said with a playful yet firm tone. "Of course, don't think of entering— a young lady's room is not just any place one can wander into."
Janne turned her head, directing her gaze to the room directly opposite hers. Satoru followed her line of sight.
"And this will be your room," she said.