Restricted Fantasy I Chapter 210: Come On, Let's Review

Inside the teahouse, Ye Shiyu was the first to take off her shoes, stepping onto the tatami mat in her black stockings. Bai Yi followed closely behind, wearing patterned ankle socks.

Sakuramiya Hitomi, the last to enter, gave the shopkeeper a few instructions in her native dialect before closing the door and bending down to take off her shoes.

Seeing how casually Bai Yi and Ye Shiyu had kicked off their footwear, she knelt by the edge of the tatami mat and neatly turned their scattered shoes around, arranging them perfectly for when they would eventually leave.

When she turned back around, Bai Yi was still staring curiously at the tea set, while Ye Shiyu had already picked up the tea leaves and was preparing to brew a pot for them.

It seed Ye Shiyu had also studied the art of tea brewing.

Watching this, Bai Yi observed Ye Shiyu's smooth, practiced movents and asked with a hint of sourness,

"How co you know how to do everything?"

"You should be asking why you don't know how to do anything,"

Ye Shiyu replied nonchalantly, her eyes lowered.

Hearing this, Bai Yi scoffed and accepted the cup of tea Ye Shiyu had just poured.

"I know how to write songs. Do you?"

"A little bit."

"Are you serious?"

After speaking, Ye Shiyu raised her eyes to look at Bai Yi, who was about to take a sip, and reminded her,

"Also, that's just the water used to wash the tea leaves. You can't drink it. It needs to be poured out."

"Huh?"

Bai Yi froze right as she was about to drink, imdiately slamming the teacup down with a look of deep resentnt.

No wonder! She had just been wondering why there were so many loose tea leaves in the cup!

"Alright, we aren't here to drink tea anyway. Let's get down to business. The teachers still have to take roll call for the School Trip tonight."

Seeing this, Sakuramiya Hitomi took the main seat, stepping in to stop their bickering with the commanding presence of a hostess.

Although... wasn't Bai Yi the one who originally started this alliance?

At those words, Bai Yi rested her chin on her hand and launched the first attack, questioning Sakuramiya Hitomi,

"So, did your brain short-circuit or sothing? Why on earth did you agree to let An Le, that God of Plague, join the Study Group?"

As soon as she said this, Ye Shiyu also looked at Sakuramiya Hitomi, clearly just as confused.

Sakuramiya Hitomi sighed and countered,

"An Le has attacked us ti and ti again. Have you two thought of a permanent solution?"

Catching onto her line of thought imdiately, Ye Shiyu calmly said,

"To deal with her, we need to know why she is coming after us."

Sakuramiya Hitomi nodded in agreent.

"Exactly. She clearly wasn't going for the kill. Otherwise, Ye Shiyu and I would have already been taken out back there."

Hearing them speak with such exaggeration, Bai Yi finally interjected,

"Going for the kill sounds terrifying. Can we please talk like normal high school students? Couldn't it just be that she wants to keep Yan Huan all to herself?"

Sakuramiya Hitomi looked at Bai Yi and asked,

"Then why were we all angry when that female boss showed up earlier, but she was completely fine?"

"That..."

It was true. An Le hadn't shown even the slightest overreaction earlier, which was obviously abnormal.

Why was she fighting them to the bitter end, yet completely ignored that female boss?

Unless there was sothing different about them compared to that female boss...

At that thought, Bai Yi instantly recalled how her pocket watch had reacted when she was ensnared by those agonizing tentacles.

It was her first ti seeing so many cracks appear on the pocket watch.

"Are you saying she is after our superpowers?"

The mont that word was spoken, the atmosphere in the teahouse shifted slightly.

At the end of the day, there were only two matters the three of them needed to sit down and discuss.

One was how to deal with An Le.

The other was their own superpowers.

By the way, did anyone even rember that the alliance they ford was originally called the Anti-Spencer Alliance?

"The tea is ready."

Right at that mont, Ye Shiyu finished brewing the tea. She poured the hot liquid into the cups and handed them to Sakuramiya Hitomi and Bai Yi.

"Thank you."

Taking her cup, Sakuramiya Hitomi blew away the steam curling over the rim and followed up her point.

"It seems that way for now. Her goal appears to be eliminating the superpowers we possess.

"So, before we continue, I want to ask: do either of you have any intention of giving up your superpowers?"

That question brought about another bout of silence.

They exchanged glances until Bai Yi finally mumbled first,

"No one would want to give up sothing so convenient, right?"

Sipping her tea, Ye Shiyu stared at the mobile phone on the wooden table. After a long mont of contemplation, she said,

"...I can abstain from using it, but I cannot be without it."

Hearing this, Sakuramiya Hitomi could not help but sigh.

In truth, her thoughts perfectly matched theirs.

Having been instilled with the ideology of 'utilizing everything that can be utilized' by her family since childhood, Sakuramiya Hitomi was acutely aware of the imnse value of the superpower she possessed.

Giving it up just like that would simply be too much of a waste.

It was fine while she was here in Sakura Country, but back at Linn, she spent almost every night inside the Room Barrier of her bedroom.

Setting aside the fact that the Persona Masks helped her strategize, just the fact that staying inside the Room Barrier kept her body incredibly healthy made it impossible for her to let go of.

Inside the Room Barrier, she truly felt omnipotent.

Just as Ye Shiyu had said, she was already trying her best to control herself from using it on anyone else, including the President. Was it so wrong to keep it just to secretly improve her own quality of life?

"..."

Reaching this conclusion, Sakuramiya Hitomi lifted her eyes and explained to the other two,

"Therefore, since conflict is inevitable, we must resolve that conflict.

"Taking the initiative to invite her to my ho gives us an advantage—it places the control firmly in our hands.

"The previous few tis, she dishonorably launched sneak attacks on us. But once she is at my ho, I can utilize my family's power to target her.

"When the ti cos, we will dictate exactly when and where to strike."

Hearing this, Ye Shiyu narrowed her eyes, but pointed out,

"However, even in a three-on-one scenario, we might not necessarily be a match for An Le.

"I don't know why, but she seems to have a deep understanding of our superpowers. She might even know them better than we do."

Bai Yi rolled her eyes at this, looking at Ye Shiyu as she complained,

"Don't you think the real issue today was your awful teamwork?"

"..."

"If you hadn't used that mobile phone to completely... you know, paralyze all of Sakuramiya, we might have actually won. She had already pinned An Le down, but then you had to go and ss everything up!"

"...I didn't know that would happen."

In truth, it wasn't just Ye Shiyu who was confused; Sakuramiya Hitomi was equally baffled.

She had tested it before. Her Persona Masks were actually sowhat independent from her main body.

For example, when An Le used her superpowers on the clones, Sakuramiya Hitomi had felt absolutely nothing.

And when her clones pulled each other's hair during an argunt, she had no idea what they were thinking or if they were in pain.

Therefore, any damage or effects inflicted on the Masks shouldn't have been shared with her.

Yet, sohow, Ye Shiyu's superpower managed to bypass the clones and instantly take down her main body as well...

Could it be that her ability specifically had a unique effect on her?

While Sakuramiya Hitomi was still pondering this, Ye Shiyu turned her gaze back to Bai Yi.

"And don't forget, it was your superpower that shattered Sakuramiya Hitomi's Room Barrier in the end, nearly sending us plumting into sowhere else completely."

"I..."

Those words left Bai Yi montarily speechless, forcing her to defensively snap back,

"Do you think I wanted that to happen?! For so reason, my superpower was severely weakened inside her stupid Room Barrier. I couldn't conceal myself at all.

"I was grabbed by An Le's freaky tentacles! If I hadn't fought back, I would have been the first casualty!"

Hearing Bai Yi bring this up, a sudden spark of inspiration flashed through Sakuramiya Hitomi's mind.

Thinking about it carefully, Ye Shiyu's superpower could instantly take down all versions of her...

While her own Room Barrier could effectively neutralize Bai Yi's invisibility-like superpower...

It seed almost as if they countered each other.

If the three of them shared such a clear chain of counters, what about An Le?

Did she also counter a specific superpower host while being weak to another?

This realization struck Sakuramiya Hitomi instantly, but she chose not to voice it, instead burying it deep in her heart.

A second later, she simply rapped her hand against the table and proposed,

"Alright. Until today, we didn't even know we all had superpowers, so getting in each other's way was inevitable.

"But knowing oneself and the enemy is the only sure way to victory. Let's just lay all our cards on the table right now."

On both sides of the wooden table, Ye Shiyu and Bai Yi exchanged a glance. Yet, one chose silence while the other averted her gaze entirely.

Seeing this, Sakuramiya Hitomi had no choice but to step up and go first.

"I'll go first. I don't know much about my own superpower either, so I can only share what I've discovered so far..."

With that, Sakuramiya Hitomi proceeded to explain her superpower.

She said:

She could only deploy one Room Barrier per week, and she could manipulate inanimate objects inside it. Furthermore, only four Room Barriers could exist simultaneously.

Moreover, she could create clones. These clones each had distinct personalities and could assist her in controlling the Room Barrier.

That was all.

Sakuramiya Hitomi concealed the true number of Room Barriers she could deploy weekly, the maximum total number of Room Barriers, Common Sense Modification, and her ability to change her appearance and physique.

Seeing Sakuramiya Hitomi break the ice, Ye Shiyu had no choice but to follow suit.

She said:

She could use her mobile phone to apply hypnosis to anyone looking at the screen, allowing her to command hypnotized individuals to do anything. The effect lasted for 15 minutes each ti, and she could use it three tis a week. That was all.

Ye Shiyu concealed her ability to release hypnosis via other electronic devices and her ability to control only the body without controlling the mind.

Finally, it was Bai Yi's turn to speak.

She said:

She could use Indifference, an ability similar to invisibility.

Nothing else.

Bai Yi concealed the fact that she could use Ti Stop.

Their introductions were all quite brief, but for so reason, just from hearing the rough outlines, Sakuramiya Hitomi completely understood how to utilize their abilities...

However, the more she listened, the stranger Sakuramiya Hitomi's expression beca.

Why did it feel like...

All of their abilities were...

So erotic?

They sounded exactly like the kind of things that would appear in certain hardcore adult works from her ho country.

In contrast, her own ability felt like the most decent and proper one.

Could it be that the ability depended on the person?

Because she was pure and chaste, the ability she obtained was equally pure?

anwhile, looking at those two, their superpowers were weirder than the last.

Oh, and there was An Le, an absolute heavyweight. She even whipped out tentacles...

It seed that was really the case. Superpowers reflected their wielders!

Lost in her thoughts, Sakuramiya Hitomi suddenly realized sothing. She narrowed her eyes at the two girls sitting across from her and interrogated them,

"Wait a minute... before all this, did either of you use your superpowers on the President?"

A suffocating silence fell over the teahouse, so heavy that the drop of a pin would sound like thunder.

After a prolonged pause, Ye Shiyu replied stiffly,

"No."

Bai Yi instantly chid in,

"— neither!"

"..."

Sitting at the head of the table, Sakuramiya Hitomi listened to their answers, her expression turning incredibly skeptical.

But what if they had actually used their superpowers on the President?

Sakuramiya Hitomi swallowed a mouthful of saliva as highly disturbing scenarios suddenly surfaced in her mind.

In the first scenario...

The President's eyes were dull and glassy, obediently following whatever Ye Shiyu commanded.

And Ye Shiyu, playing with him like a toy, did those kinds of things to the mindless President...

Sakuramiya Hitomi gasped in shock, clutching a handful of her own hair.

And in the second scenario...

The President was completely oblivious, his expression normal as he went about his business, thinking everything was perfectly fine.

In reality, he hadn't noticed the strange disarray of his clothes, nor the fact that a certain idol with a creepy smile was feeling him up right next to him...

And just when he thought everything was normal, the effect would end!

At that exact mont, a flood of countless sensations would overwhelm his brain, causing the President to make all sorts of improper expressions...

"Thud!"

Just thinking about it, Sakuramiya Hitomi tightly grabbed her hair and slamd her head hard onto the wooden table in sheer agony, producing a dull thud.

As Ye Shiyu and Bai Yi both averted their eyes with severely guilty consciences, Sakuramiya Hitomi lifted her head with gritted teeth, glaring fiercely at the two.

How on earth did she end up allying with these two?!

She almost wanted to switch sides and help An Le now!!

Use her superpowers to viciously slaughter these two wretches and toss them off the stage!

She herself regretted to death the one ti she had to use her superpower during that major problem, and was now walking on eggshells, being as cautious and prudent as possible.

And these two? They were riding her President like a damn bicycle?!

"Let's... lay down so ground rules first."

With this thought burning in her mind, Sakuramiya Hitomi scanned Ye Shiyu and Bai Yi with vicious, bloodshot eyes.

"Rule number one: Absolutely... you are absolutely forbidden from ever using your superpowers on the President again!"

"..."

Seeing that the two were still completely silent, Sakuramiya Hitomi imdiately turned hostile.

"If you don't agree, then this alliance is dissolved imdiately! We'll go our separate ways! And don't bla

for defecting when the ti cos—I will gladly help An Le deal with you two first!"

Noticing Sakuramiya Hitomi's unyielding attitude, Ye Shiyu glanced at her mobile phone.

Though there was a trace of hesitation in her heart, in the end, it was rely a fleeting thought.

After all, it had been quite a long ti since she had used hypnosis on Xiao Huan...

She had turned over a new leaf.

"Alright. I agree."

"And you?"

Seeing that Ye Shiyu had agreed, Bai Yi naturally had no choice but to nod.

"... too."

But then again, as long as Sakuramiya Hitomi didn't deploy a Room Barrier, her Indifference wouldn't be detected by anyone anyway.

Even if she did use it, Sakuramiya wouldn't be able to find out, right?

That was what Bai Yi thought, but it remained nothing more than a passing thought.

"Rule number two: the existence of our superpowers must never be exposed to anyone else! Especially the President!"

"Mhm, I agree."

"Right, right, right, I agree with this one too!"

The second rule was passed by everyone without a second thought.

Truth be told, the scene earlier where all four of them instantly ceased their battle the mont Yan Huan appeared already proved this point. It was an unspoken rule that the Hosts would instinctively abide by.

Superpower matters were to be resolved among the Hosts alone. They absolutely could not be exposed.

If ordinary people found out...

Might they be captured and dissected?

And if Yan Huan found out...

At that thought, the terrifying desire not to be exposed grew several degrees thicker among the three Modifiers in the teahouse.

Clearly, that was a consequence none of them could accept.

"Lastly... just consider this

taking precautions. No matter how you use your superpowers, you must absolutely not take another person's life."

"Ha, is that really necessary? You're making us sound like heinous criminals or sothing."

Facing Bai Yi's complaint, Sakuramiya Hitomi rely sighed, refilled her cup of tea, and spoke.

"I already told you, I'm just taking precautions. It's just a personal concern of mine—a fear that the situation might spiral out of control."

"You worry too much. I'm a Three-Goods Student, you know~"

Sakuramiya Hitomi glanced at Bai Yi and took a sip of her tea.

"Hard to say."

"..."

Having reached this point, the topics the forr 'Anti-Spencer Alliance' needed to discuss were pretty much concluded.

They had determined how to deal with An Le, deepened their understanding of each other's superpowers, and drawn a bottom line...

But actually, deep down, Sakuramiya Hitomi harbored another possible solution regarding An Le that she hadn't voiced.

She was wondering:

Was there any possibility of making peace with An Le?

Perhaps, when they went to her house later, she could sit down and have a calm, reasonable discussion with her...

"Thank you for your patronage, dear guests. We look forward to your next visit~"

After paying the bill, the three girls grabbed their gifts and hurried back to the hotel, cutting it close on ti. In just over ten minutes, the teachers would be taking roll call.

As the hour grew late, the once bustling streets of Shinsaibashi were gradually beginning to dim.

A few shop assistants could be seen locking their doors, leaving the rchandise inside to spend the night in darkness.

As they walked, Bai Yi gazed at the silent streets around them and could not help but ask,

"Say, do you think there are other people out there with superpowers besides us and An Le?"

"...I don't know, but there probably are."

"Could this be the Spiritual Energy Reawakening?!"

"What?"

As soone from Sakura Country, Sakuramiya Hitomi didn't quite get Bai Yi's humor, but she had a strong feeling she was just spouting nonsense.

Still, speaking of which, if there really were other people with superpowers out there besides them...

The four superpower users they currently knew of were all students from their school. That ant any other superpowered individuals were highly likely to be at their school too...

"..."

As they continued down the street, the usually taciturn Ye Shiyu abruptly stopped in her tracks, her gaze locked onto a closed shop nearby.

Seeing this, Sakuramiya Hitomi and Bai Yi paused in confusion and followed her line of sight.

Inside the display window stood a massive Golden Bomb Pig, staring quietly back at the three of them...

It sported an incredibly obnoxious, evil smile on its face.

The mont they laid eyes on that pig, a single thought synced in their minds. Almost simultaneously, they blurted out in unison,

"Spencer!!"

"Achoo!"

Sunday, the second day of the School Trip, in Osaka.

On the tour bus, Spencer sneezed. Hugging the Golden Bomb Pig doll Yan Huan had given her yesterday in her arms, she scratched her cheek, looking a bit unnatural.

Stare~

"..."

She continued gazing out the window until she finally could not take it anymore. Exasperated, she turned her head to glare at Sakuramiya Hitomi, Ye Shiyu, and Bai Yi, who were all staring intently at her.

"Why have you guys been staring at

since this morning, awoo?!"

"Nothing, just looking at you."

"Why are you looking at , awoo?"

Bai Yi coughed lightly, feeling a bit awkward and unsure of what to say.

At the sa ti, she turned her head to glance at Sakuramiya Hitomi, seemingly trying to communicate through her eyes.

'Should we test the waters?'

'Are you sure she's smart enough to understand a subtle hint?'

'Then what should we do?'

Seeing Sakuramiya Hitomi and Bai Yi still hesitating, Ye Shiyu pondered for a second before simply sitting down next to Spencer and speaking up.

"Spencer..."

"Awoo?"

Spencer stared vigilantly at the approaching Ye Shiyu. In the very next second, however, she heard her ask,

"Do you have a superpower?"