"Click~"
At the exact sa ti, inside another Guest Room.
The sound of a sliding door opening echoed. An Le had finished washing up and was returning to her room to rest.
By now, it was late into the night, and the Sakuramiya Residence was terrifyingly silent.
The Guest Rooms were spaced quite a distance apart, separated by the courtyard. Thus, it was impossible to know what was happening in the other rooms. One could only faintly discern from the extinguished lights that everyone else seed to have already gone to sleep.
However, the lights in An Le's room were still on.
This was because her roommate had not only stayed awake but was currently kneeling perfectly straight on the Tatami Mat in a bathrobe, waiting for her to return.
It was Sakuramiya Hitomi.
"Vice President Sakuramiya."
Seeing Sakuramiya Hitomi in the room, An Le paused for a second before stepping inside and silently closing the sliding door behind her.
The mont the door shut, Sakuramiya Hitomi took a deep breath and looked at An Le.
"An Le, you should be able to tell that I willingly chose to share a room with you so we could have a proper talk, right?"
An Le nodded, stuffing her portable Toiletries into her suitcase as she spoke.
"What if I do not want to talk to you?"
"..."
Hearing An Le's uncompromising tone, Sakuramiya Hitomi did not get angry. Instead, she smiled.
"Why does it feel like ever since you gained a Superpower, your courage has grown imnsely? In the past, you absolutely wouldn't have dared to speak to
like this...
"Especially just now. None of us could talk back to Luciana, yet you dared to stop her directly to her face.
"You should know how powerful her family is, right?"
Hearing Sakuramiya Hitomi say this, An Le was Slow to Catch On and only belatedly realized this fact.
However, it was not because she had a Superpower, but rather because she now knew the truth about the abilities granted by Little Finger and had made the decision to eliminate everyone else's Superpowers.
'Was it because she no longer cared about anything else that her courage had grown?'
Thinking of this, An Le couldn't help but touch her right shoulder, which had already started to lose sensation.
!!
Seeing An Le raise her hand, Sakuramiya Hitomi thought she was about to pull a Zero-Fra Activation and Resort to Violence right then and there, so she imdiately rolled up the sleeves of her bathrobe.
This revealed her slender arm and a transparent bracelet securely fastened around her wrist.
"...An Le, do you know what this is?"
"I don't know..."
"This is a bracelet developed by the Spencer family that constantly monitors physical conditions. If anything happens to my body, everyone in the house will receive an alert and rush over here imdiately!"
Sakuramiya Hitomi narrowed her eyes and declared.
"Including my Older Brother, who is staying with the President."
"..."
Hearing this, An Le showed no extra reaction and did not reply with a single word.
"So, can we have a proper talk now?"
"...Then, Vice President Sakuramiya, what do you want to talk to
about?"
Having held up her arm with the bracelet for only a few seconds, Sakuramiya Hitomi already felt her muscles ache.
Thus, she lowered her arm with sweat beading on her forehead and continued.
"I know you attacked us for the President's sake. But believe it or not, your accusations against
are completely wrong.
"I have never once thought of using my Superpower to harm the President, and I rarely even use it on others...
"Because I know that recklessly using power to influence others will ultimately only bring disaster upon myself.
"Therefore, no matter how much I dislike Luciana, I still had to stop you from using your Superpower on her today...
"Although, I also felt that you wouldn't do sothing like that to her unless absolutely necessary."
After Sakuramiya Hitomi finished speaking, An Le did not argue. Instead, she Pursed Her Lips and replied.
"Mhm, I believe you, Vice President Sakuramiya."
"Eh?"
Sakuramiya Hitomi, who had fully prepared herself for a heated verbal debate, never expected An Le to yield so quickly. She even began to suspect if An Le was playing so kind of trick.
'Is she pretending to sleep to lure the enemy in?'
'To make
lower my guard?'
"But, Vice President Sakuramiya, just because you wouldn't do it doesn't an Bai Yi and Senior Student Ye won't, right?"
"This..."
This question instantly gave Sakuramiya Hitomi a Guilty Conscience. After all, when they had confronted each other earlier, those two had essentially confessed.
Those two had already used their Superpowers on the President...
And they might have even used them frequently!!
But right now, in order to convince An Le, Sakuramiya Hitomi averted her eyes and spoke against her own conscience.
"They've already turned over a new leaf... probably..."
"..."
An Le just stared straight at Sakuramiya Hitomi, giving off a strong vibe of jabbing her in the forehead and demanding, 'Do you even believe what you're saying?'
After a long silence, An Le sighed and suddenly said.
"Vice President Sakuramiya, I also know that Xiao Huan really loves the beautiful, azure ocean."
"..."
"Earlier, you were originally planning to visit Kobe before coming back here, just so you could take the President to see the ocean there, right?"
"...Yes."
"Besides, I've seen it throughout this entire trip—you've constantly been taking care of others. I think you're a kind person, Vice President Sakuramiya, which is why I chose to believe you."
"A kind person..."
Hearing this evaluation, Sakuramiya Hitomi was montarily stunned before she couldn't help but let out a self-deprecating laugh.
"If Cold Hitomi heard your assessnt of , she'd probably be so furious she'd point right at my nose and curse
out."
"Cold... Hitomi?"
"Ah, that's the 'forr ' created by my Superpower. She definitely can't be considered a good person."
Sakuramiya Hitomi smiled faintly and looked at An Le.
"Or rather, even the
from not too long ago wasn't a good person... Because I... I actually couldn't help but peek at the people I care about... For example, the President..."
"..."
Listening to Sakuramiya Hitomi's confession, An Le gradually ford an expression that scread, 'I don't understand, but I am profoundly shocked.'
Her mouth even fell open slightly, as if she wanted to swallow the praise she had just given.
'You people are terrifying...'
'Although, it seems like I'm pretty much the sa?'
"You don't need to look at
like that; the President already knows about this."
Sakuramiya Hitomi stared blankly at the floor, uttering those words with a Heart Like Dead Ashes.
With a sigh, she continued addressing An Le.
"So, you don't need to call
a kind person.
"If I really had to say... I'm just trying my best to beco a better version of myself...
"Especially after seeing the President stand up for Spencer during the Club Battle Finals.
"I fell in love with him precisely because of things like that. But then I was forced to consider—if everything I do goes completely against the very qualities I love...
"Then would the person I love really ever love
back?
"Even though, despite changing my ways, I still feel like the President might never like this version of
anyway..."
Hearing this, An Le tilted her head and spoke with straightforward bluntness.
"But if Xiao Huan really thought that way, why would he rush over so frantically to help you solve your problem the mont he heard you couldn't return to Linn?"
"..."
This question left Sakuramiya Hitomi stunned, but she soon ca up with her own explanation.
"Maybe it's because of our past friendship... The point is how things are normally... Ever since the President found out about my peeping, it just feels different than before. Plus, I can no longer read his thoughts by spying on him, so I can't pretend to be the type of girl he likes..."
"...You're just overthinking things, Vice President Sakuramiya."
"I am not!"
"...But you clearly are."
An Le watched Sakuramiya Hitomi ramble in front of her, completely failing to understand what she was stressing over.
In her eyes, Sakuramiya Hitomi and Xiao Huan were practically blessed by the heavens with perfect conditions.
They had known each other for so long, built a deep emotional foundation, and it was obvious that Xiao Huan had unique feelings for her.
And after hearing Sakuramiya Hitomi expose her own dark history today, An Le found it even more astonishing.
'Sothing as crazy as stalking happened, and Xiao Huan still didn't run away. He even rushed over here to help you when you couldn't go back to Linn...'
'Anyone else would be popping champagne by now, yet here you are moaning about how much you've lost.'
'My advice: if you don't know how to play the ga, just stop trying to make moves...'
Right in front of her, sensing An Le's judging gaze, Sakuramiya Hitomi's small face flushed a furious red.
"Hah? You say that as if you're so kind of expert!
"Then let
ask you: yesterday at the Hotel, when the President ca up and specifically called your na, you reacted by silently excluding yourself...
"Aren't you the President's Childhood Sweetheart? Why would you think like that? Are you not overthinking things yourself?"
Hearing this, An Le's eyes couldn't help but dim.
She shook her head and simply replied.
"It's different... At that ti, Xiao Huan probably just heard us talking in the Corridor and realized I was there, that's all..."
"I don't get it. How is that any different? Clearly..."
"It just is, Vice President Sakuramiya."
Sakuramiya Hitomi obviously wanted to say more, but An Le interrupted her.
"Unlike you, who isn't sure if Xiao Huan likes you or not... I can confirm with absolute certainty that Xiao Huan's feelings for
are not romantic love..."
"..."
These words left Sakuramiya Hitomi stunned, and she remained silent for a long ti, unsure of what to say.
Especially seeing An Le look sowhat sorrowful yet still openly and bluntly admitting it.
At this mont, she truly wished Bai Yi could share a little of her overconfidence with An Le. At least Bai Yi, even when faced with the cold hard truth, possessed a baffling sense of self-assurance.
Not knowing what else to say, Sakuramiya Hitomi had no choice but to change the subject and return to her main point.
"Ahem... So, what I an is, since we both want to stop Superpowers from harming the President, why do we have to fight to the death?
"Earlier, Ye Shiyu and I nearly fell out of the Jiejiè into so unknown void and died, and when Ye Shiyu severed your Tentacles, you were in agonizing Pain as well...
"Is there really a need to do all this? As long as we are here, checking and balancing each other, and keeping the situation under control... shouldn't that be enough?"
After listening to Sakuramiya's entire proposal, An Le pondered for a second before firmly shaking her head.
"That... won't work, Vice President Sakuramiya."
"Why? Why must you strip us of our Superpowers before you're satisfied? I don't believe Bai Yi's theory that you're just waiting for our abilities to disappear so you can abuse your own power and tyrannize us."
Faced with her unhesitating refusal, Sakuramiya Hitomi grew increasingly bewildered.
"Yes, in terms of personal conditions, Ye Shiyu, Spencer, and I are all quite exceptional, and Bai Yi isn't bad either.
"But that doesn't an we won't face problems, whether they be internal psychological struggles or external environntal issues...
"Just like this ti, where a single word from my Grandfather could prevent
from returning to Linn. If I stubbornly defied my Grandfather, my parents might have been affected too!
"At tis like these, maybe I could use my Jiejiè to do sothing and help them!
"Why? Why do you have to be so stubborn and enforce a one-size-fits-all ban? What's the point?
"Superpowers themselves are innocent. As long as they are used properly, it should be fine!"
However, An Le just lifted her eyes and Glanced At the transparent bracelet on Sakuramiya Hitomi's wrist, suddenly asking a seemingly unrelated question.
"Vice President Sakuramiya, that bracelet you ntioned earlier, the one that can monitor your physical condition at all tis... how much does it cost to buy one?"
"...Around a hundred thousand? I don't know the exact Price..."
"That truly is a steep Price..."
An Le smiled slightly, tilting her head as she looked at Sakuramiya Hitomi.
"But to obtain such a convenient and useful function, paying an expensive Price is only natural, isn't it?"
"...That's true."
"Then, what if the functions of this bracelet were even more powerful? So powerful that it could achieve the most incredible functions you can currently think of, even stepping into the realm of sci-fi... what would its value be then?"
"What does this have to do with what we're talking a—"
Sakuramiya Hitomi frowned, her words already leaving her mouth.
But halfway through her sentence, she instantly grasped the underlying aning behind An Le's words.
aning...
If a bracelet with its current functions is worth a hundred thousand, then if it possessed functions akin to a Superpower, how much would it be worth?
It was essentially An Le asking...
What kind of price must one pay to use a Superpower?
"..."
There is no such thing as a free lunch in this world; Sakuramiya Hitomi knew this truth very well.
However, people around the world, herself included, often forgot this principle.
Sotis it was perhaps because destiny's gifts were wrapped so beautifully that they failed to realize it.
Other tis, perhaps the gift was simply too sweet, making them unwilling to acknowledge it.
That was all.
"Are you saying..."
"It's ti to sleep, Vice President Sakuramiya."
"..."
Seeing Sakuramiya Hitomi's expression shift slightly, An Le did not continue the topic.
Because if she said any more, the Little Finger inside her body might sense that sothing was amiss.
An Le pulled back her Bedding and slipped under the covers. Looking at Sakuramiya Hitomi, she said,
"Rest assured, I promise that before the School Trip ends, I will not make a move against any of you while we are in the Sakuramiya Residence. Vice President Sakuramiya, you should focus on solving the dilemma your Grandfather threw at you first."
"..."
Seeing the lingering suspicion on Sakuramiya Hitomi's face, An Le gave a shy smile and added,
"Don't worry about
breaking my word. I have a very good mory, so I'll always rember my promise and absolutely will not break it."
"Alright... But why only until the day before the School Trip ends, rather than after we return to Linn?"
Sakuramiya Hitomi asked this as she let out a sigh of relief and lay down as well.
An Le blinked, a faint blush of shyness tinting her cheeks.
"Because... there's sothing very important to do on the last day."
"..."
Sakuramiya Hitomi had no idea what this 'very important thing' was, but she had a nagging feeling...
That it couldn't be anything good.
"I'm turning off the lights."
"Mhm, goodnight, Vice President Sakuramiya."
"...Goodnight."
As the lights went out, Sakuramiya Hitomi and An Le turned their backs to each other to rest.
However, in the darkness, Sakuramiya Hitomi quietly reached out her hand and deployed her Jiejiè.
Then, she spoke in her mind to several of her Persona Masks.
"You guys, stay hidden and keep watch for
tonight, just in case she tries anything while we sleep."
"Tsk, fine, fine."
"..."
Listening to the chaotic chatter from the Persona Masks in her mind, For So Reason, An Le's earlier words suddenly echoed through Sakuramiya Hitomi's thoughts.
'If there really is a price for
using my Superpower...'
'What could it be?'
On the other side of the room, An Le also released Little Finger and spoke to it in her mind.
"Little Finger, I'm leaving the night watch to you."
"Don't worry, leave it to ! With
watching, if she tries anything funny, I'll wake you up imdiately!"
"..."
And so, with both girls keeping their guard up against one another, they gradually drifted off to sleep.
After falling asleep, An Le's consciousness beca like a tiny boat, drifting arduously across the vast ocean of dreams.
That turbulent sea of mory carried her little boat, seemingly transporting her back to a certain day right after she had just entered Far Moon Academy.
She rembered recognizing at first glance that the handso boy from Class A running for Student Council President was the Xiao Huan she had longed for day and night.
She also rembered sprinting all the way from the Teaching Building that day, rushing to the candidates' canvassing area outside to find Xiao Huan.
There, Owen, who was running for president, and his Campaign Partner had spent money to set up a temporary speech podium. The other competitors were not far behind, each displaying their own unique thods.
So organized tea breaks, while others bought a mountain of gifts—as long as students went over and took their promotional flyers, they would receive a present.
Right in the middle of those Immortals Fighting, she saw Xiao Huan all by himself, isolated and alone, actively approaching passing students to hand out his campaign flyers.
It seed that because his campaign partner had Social Anxiety, such occasions could only be left for Xiao Huan to handle alone.
An Le still rembered repeating the words Xiao Huan had told her in the past: no matter how long they were separated, he would definitely recognize her.
Thus, she mustered her courage, walked up to Yan Huan, stood before him, brushed aside her bangs, and Called Out to him.
"U-Um... Xiao..."
Yan Huan looked at her, paused for a mont, and then broke into a beautiful smile.
Following that, he handed her a flyer and spoke gently.
"Hello there. I'm an Outer Court Student from Class 1-A, Yan Huan. I'm currently running for Student Council President. Would you be interested in learning about my campaign platform?
"Here is my campaign flyer, you can take a look. If you're interested and think it sounds good, you can co sit in on the First Round of the debate between Senior Ouyang and ..."
An Le still rembered how she opened her mouth, numbly accepting the flyer he handed over, and blankly replying,
"O-Okay. I'll definitely go."
"Thank you so much."
And so, Xiao Huan left with a smile, taking his flyers to distribute to other students.
An Le gripped the flyer, watching him solitary approach every passing student to hand them out.
Naturally, many rejected him, especially after hearing Yan Huan's self-introduction heavily stacked with the traits 'First-Year' and 'Outer Court Student'.
Only occasionally would a passing girl notice his good looks and stop, pretending to be interested just to strike up a conversation with him.
As for An Le, she just stood frozen in place, her gaze tracking Yan Huan the entire ti.
In her heart, she felt no resentnt at all over the fact that he completely forgot his promise of "no matter what, I will definitely recognize you."
Instead, the image of him isolated and alone, handing out flyers and trying to pitch himself among a crowd of Inner Court Students, beca permanently etched into An Le's mory.
"..."
In the second she spent gazing at Yan Huan's figure, An Le blinked and looked down at the flyer in her hand.
On it were written many organized and summarized data points, looking extrely detailed.
It was probably made by Xiao Huan's Campaign Partner, and it was very beautifully done.
"Tsk, we talked for so long, and he didn't even give us his contact info! Who wants to listen to an Outer Court Student ramble about so many complicated things anyway? He has no background, so he won't get elected regardless..."
"He's so good-looking, just be a little more patient..."
At that mont, the two girls who had just pulled Xiao Huan into a conversation walked past.
As they complained in annoyance, they casually tossed the flyers Yan Huan had handed them into a roadside trash can.
"..."
Hearing their words, An Le pondered for a mont before an idea suddenly popped into her head.
Even though Xiao Huan had completely failed to recognize An Le, and even though she had failed to muster the courage to acknowledge him...
She suddenly made up her mind to do sothing for him.
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