Restricted Fantasy Invasion

Chapter 46

"Born from the beauty of this world, emerging from that kind heart." White gloves spread open, and a magic wand sparkling with red light spun at her fingertips.

"To protect the world from destruction, to safeguard the peace of the world."

Crimson and pink skirts fluttered; the girl's fair thigh was slightly raised on one side while the other leg stood straight in place.

"Magical Girl of Love, Aili, has arrived~"

Her right eye tightly shut, while her left eye-wearing a purple contact lens-aimed at the gem of the magic wand, as her right hand posed as if drawing a bowstring.

"Come on, evil minions, let Aili-chan purify you!!"

With full makeup, colored contacts, and a wig, Yuan Lina was absolutely dazzling-her little face growing larger and larger in Ashley's eyes.

The next second, Ashley clutched her head in agony, her face flushed as she shouted,

"Don't recite anime lines so naturally like that!!"

Holding her pose, Yuan Lina tilted her head in confusion, looking at Ashley-who was squatting on the ground with her face covered-and pouted,

"What are you saying, Star Magical Girl Best-chan? Hurry and stand up to fight the villains!"

"Aaaaahhh!!"

Ashley covered her face, feeling the gazes of Yan Huan, Sakuramiya Hitomi, and Yaqiao Mu beside her. Right now, she truly wanted to find a hole to crawl into and never come out again.

If she'd known, she never should have softened up and agreed to this idiot's request to cosplay together!

I want to die, I really want to die.

"Pfft!"

Witnessing this scene, Yaqiao Mu burst into laughter, quietly raising his phone to snap a picture.

But at that moment, the blue magical girl Ashley-still squatting-suddenly snapped her head up, her eyes with blue contacts glaring fiercely.

In that instant, Yaqiao Mu was like the "photo-taking weirdo" from an anime.

"Hey, Yaqiao, if you dare take a picture now, you'll die, you know."

Discipline committee chair-so scary!

"."

Yaqiao Mu gulped, silently putting his phone away.

Sakuramiya Hitomi, holding a parasol, didn't quite understand all this, so she asked Yuan Lina curiously,

"Yuan Lina, did you make Ashley cosplay a character she's totally unfamiliar with?"

"Eh, no way?! Ashley clearly loves watching 'Magical Girl of Love' the most!"

Yuan Lina denied it fiercely.

Yaqiao Mu chuckled and explained to Sakuramiya Hitomi,

"Ashley probably does like it, but that was elementary school Ashley."

Hearing this, Ashley's face-still squatting-grew even redder, burying her head into her knees, making Yan Huan feel a little sympathetic.

It was probably like cosplaying a character from "Balala the Fairies" and then, in public, reciting the line 'Balala energy, fairy transformation'-that kind of shame.

No, this was probably already at the level of having to sing 'Once Upon a Time There Was a Fairy Castle' in front of everyone.

Sakuramiya Hitomi rubbed her chin, still puzzled,

"So that's how it is. But is it really okay to cosplay a character from a childhood cartoon?"

Yan Huan smiled slightly and said to Sakuramiya Hitomi,

"Of course. In fact, from my online surfing experience, things meant for kids often end up being loved by lots of adults."

"?"

Sakuramiya Hitomi still didn't get what Yan Huan meant, but Yan Huan gently pointed behind her.

Sure enough, quite a few people were already coming over with cameras, asking Yuan Lina,

"Ah, are you Aili-chan and Best-chan from 'Magical Girl of Love'?! So accurate! Can we take your photo?"

"Eh?"

Ashley looked up blankly at Yuan Lina beside her.

Yuan Lina and Ashley exchanged a glance, then showed an innocent (devilish) smile,

"Sure!"

"I need a booster shot."

But Ashley was still pulled up by Yuan Lina, and together they struck the magical girls' combo attack pose,

"Love and Star★, joint attack~"

"Aaaaahhhhh!!"

Sakuramiya Hitomi looked away, no longer watching Ashley, who seemed to be marching to her execution, and instead silently prayed for her in her heart.

Hopefully the kid survives.

"Looks like these cosplayers are already taking photos outside. Aren't we going inside?"

Sakuramiya Hitomi glanced at the wide open space outside the convention center and asked.

Right now, quite a few cosplayers dressed as all kinds of characters were walking around, and there were plenty being asked for photos just like Yuan Lina and Ashley.

"Ah, it's because you have to queue to get in, and there are all sorts of events and booths inside. But for taking photos and collecting photos, it's probably better outside."

Yan Huan patiently explained to the seemingly clueless Sakuramiya Hitomi,

"Plus, tickets to get in have been scalped to a high price-not everyone has one. Lots of people are here outside to make friends and take photos."

Sakuramiya Hitomi looked at Yan Huan beside her and covered her mouth, giggling,

"President, you seem to know a lot about this."

"It happens every year. Even if I haven't been before, I've seen it online. And isn't Yaqiao in the student council too?"

So scheming~

In reality, how could Sakuramiya Hitomi not know?

Even if she hadn't known before, after Nara reminded her, she'd crammed and now knew everything there was to know.

She was actually hinting for everyone to hurry into the venue, since most of her decorations were inside.

After all, out here, there was nothing she could use to show off to the president!!

Just as Sakuramiya Hitomi was about to say something more, Yaqiao Mu picked up his phone, apparently having received a message,

"Ah, they've arrived too."

"They?"

Yan Huan looked at Yaqiao Mu and asked,

"Who?"

"Ah, didn't I say I'd introduce you to some people in the scene? It's a couple of big names from the underground. They're exhibiting too, selling new works in the doujin area."

"Underground?"

This time, Sakuramiya Hitomi had really hit a knowledge blind spot. She blinked at Yaqiao Mu and Yan Huan, as if asking for clarification.

But the two didn't answer her right away. Instead, they exchanged a glance and began a silent conversation.

Yan Huan tilted his head: Hey, you said you'd introduce the big names-so you explain to Sakuramiya what the underground is.

Yaqiao Mu blinked: Huh?! Me, explain that stuff to her? If her family found out, they'd totally kill me!

Yan Huan: Then why did you say you'd introduce her to people in the scene, knowing she's a young lady?!

Yaqiao Mu: People all have to grow up, President. So, you be the one who helps Vice President Sakuramiya become an adult!

Yan Huan: .

Yan Huan blinked, then turned to look at Sakuramiya Hitomi, who was standing nearby under her parasol, looking all puzzled.

Seeing her frown, he asked,

"Is it some kind of secret code between you guys?"

"Not really."

Yan Huan turned back and glanced at Yaqiao Mu, only to find the guy had quietly backed away several steps and was now scouting out cosplayers he wanted to ask for photos later.

Sneaky otaku!

As the saying goes, the more you don't want someone to know, the more curious they'll get.

That was probably exactly what was happening now.

Sakuramiya stared, inching closer to Yan Huan, her eyes full of curiosity.

Proud of knowing Yan Huan so well, she just had to get to the bottom of anything Yan Huan knew that she didn't.

"President?"

Yan Huan sighed helplessly and beckoned her over with a finger.

When Sakuramiya Hitomi leaned in a bit, he also moved forward, stepping under the shade of her parasol.

Feeling Yan Huan draw near, Sakuramiya Hitomi's face immediately flushed, and even the hand holding her parasol trembled.

Wait.

This was a little weird, but didn't it feel a bit like sharing an umbrella?

But before Sakuramiya could feel shy for more than a second, Yan Huan was already at her ear, whispering softly.

"What the underground refers to is-"

As she listened, her eyes gradually widened in disbelief, and even her lips parted unconsciously.

All of it was that kind of, and that kind of, content~

Those wild imagined scenes flew uncontrollably across her blank eyes, occupying all her brain's memory at the moment.

"."

Under Yan Huan's gentle guidance, on this day, Sakuramiya Hitomi successfully became an adult!

Behind them, Yaqiao Mu didn't look back, but with trembling hands, he gave a thumbs-up to Yan Huan's departing figure, as a hymn to his courage.

And only after explaining everything in detail did Yan Huan finally take a step back, walking out from under the shade of her parasol.

"That's about it, Sakuramiya."

"."

Sakuramiya Hitomi's lips parted slightly, her little face burning as if she had a fever.

She couldn't help but look at Yan Huan, but after just one glance, her gaze darted away as if scalded.

Then, under Yan Huan's gaze, her cheeks actually began to puff up a little.

"Mmph."

And then, huffing, she raised her fist and gave Yan Huan's shoulder a light punch.

"Da~"

Soft and gentle, the frail Sakuramiya Hitomi couldn't stir up any waves at all.

"Ah, Sakuramiya, sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry~"

"Mmph."

Yan Huan hurriedly apologized, but in reality, that punch from Sakuramiya felt more like an adorable act of pouting.

The boy put on a "tormented expression," as if he were truly repenting.

And behind them, after scouting out a few cosplayers, Yaqiao Mu finally turned his head.

Seeing this scene was like being hit full-on by a flashbang, with no chance to turn away.

"Bzzz!!"

Yikes!!

Everyone, run!!

It's the holy light magic used by normies!! Retreat to the cave, quick!!

This time, another boy really did show a tormented expression.

He was truly repenting: why did he have to come to the con with these damn normies?

Yaqiao Mu, on the verge of tears, took out his phone, checked his messages again, and turned to ask Yan Huan and Sakuramiya Hitomi,

"The two teachers are already inside the expo, so, what do you think, should we go in or...?" Yan Huan glanced at Yuan Lina and Ashley, who were surrounded by people taking photos, and said to Yaqiao Mu,

"Should we wait for them to finish taking pictures and go in together?"

"That might take a while. Actually, I want to take some photos too, so President and Vice President, you two..."

Although the most important part of a con is the social aspect, Yan Huan couldn't help but glance at Sakuramiya, who was standing nearby, completely clueless about 2D culture.

"."

After thinking for a moment, he smiled and said,

"Then I'll go queue up with Sakuramiya first. We didn't bring anything, so going in early to check out the expo won't be boring."

"OK, President. Then message our location on plane, and I'll come in with Yuan Lina and the others later."

"Alright."

Yaqiao Mu took out his "voice stick" that recorded his voice, then pulled a camera from his backpack and walked off in a certain direction.

That back view was so resolute.

And behind Yan Huan, Sakuramiya Hitomi, still holding her parasol, quickly patted her slightly flushed face.

Actually, it's not that she's so innocent as to know nothing about these things, it's mainly that-

Too... too close, just now-

Whispering so softly right next to her ear-

It gave Sakuramiya Hitomi an intense feeling of intimacy.

That gentle voice by her ear, with warm breath brushing her earlobe, talking about such indescribable topics, made her imagination run wild.

A tingling feeling rose up from within, and though she was shy and liked it, her body seemed to react in the opposite way, out of her control.

That's why she reached out and punched Yan Huan.

But why, exactly?

Cute aggression~

A psychology term, referring to the feeling when the brain encounters something or someone so cute or so lovable that it's "cuteness/love to the extreme."

In order to balance the overwhelming emotions of affection, the brain produces actions that seem completely opposite to "liking."

Just now, Sakuramiya Hitomi's brain was swept up by this mechanism, resulting in her hitting him.

"Could President have misunderstood?"

Under the parasol, Sakuramiya Hitomi, face still pink, looked at Yan Huan's back.

Maybe he thinks I did that because I dislike him.

The next second, as soon as Yaqiao Mu left, Yan Huan turned around, startling Sakuramiya Hitomi so much that she quickly tilted her parasol forward to hide half her face.

But luckily, Yan Huan just smiled slightly and said to Sakuramiya Hitomi,

"Let's go line up, Sakuramiya."

"Mm."

Leading Sakuramiya Hitomi toward the east entrance to queue, they soon saw the long line waiting to get in.

"Sakuramiya, the ticket."

"Thank you, President."

Yan Huan handed the ticket he'd brought to Sakuramiya. He had a QR code from Bai Yi, which apparently allowed him to use the VIP lane.

But since Sakuramiya was still here, Yan Huan decided to line up with her.

Slowly following the queue forward, Sakuramiya Hitomi occasionally glanced at Yan Huan, who was looking at his phone.

She pressed her lips together, wanting to explain her earlier action.

But just as she was about to speak, another voice sounded beside Yan Huan,

"Um... big brother, can I take a photo with you?"

Sakuramiya Hitomi was slightly taken aback, turned her head, and saw several young girls, a bit shy, gathering around Yan Huan.

Photo collecting?

If I remember right, that means wanting to take a photo with the President, right?

W-wait!

We spent all morning perfecting our looks and setting up "traps" inside the expo, and I totally forgot to take a photo with the President!

And now, is someone about to steal my first photo with the President?!

Photo collecting-

What an annoying culture!

To think they'd take photos with random guys-doesn't that seem improper?

Because she hadn't gotten a photo, Sakuramiya Hitomi started fiercely criticizing the con culture in her mind.

Should I stop them?

But-

What right do I have to stop them?

My persona doesn't allow it, and besides, this is totally normal at cons, right?

As long as the President doesn't refuse, the other person can rightfully stand next to him and hold up a camera.

They'll definitely use a beauty filter, right?

And add some cute stickers.

Ah, if they put them on the President's face, it'll definitely be adorable.

"Big brother, you're so handsome~"

They'll definitely say that, and then naturally make another request,

"Can we add each other as friends?"

After adding each other on plane, they'll chat with the President all the time, and before you know it, sparks of love will fly.

Eventually, after graduation, they'll get married and have kids, and every time there's a wedding or a baby shower, they'll send me an invitation, and I'll have to give a gift...

This is Longguo culture, right?

So scary, the photo collecting culture at cons is terrifying.

No, I have to eradicate this terrifying habit.

From now on, all cons in Sakura Country must ban photo collecting, and then, little by little, the whole world will follow suit.

In just a few seconds, Sakuramiya Hitomi's imagination was overflowing so much that it triggered a brainstorm.

"Miss, can I take your photo?"

"Eh?"

Just as the smile on Sakuramiya Hitomi's face was becoming more polished and perfect, and the air pressure around her kept dropping, a male voice suddenly sounded behind her, interrupting her thoughts.

She turned around with her parasol and saw several boys holding cameras making the same request.

But without hesitation, Sakuramiya Hitomi politely declined,

"Sorry, I don't really take photos."

After all, when Spencer took a photo of Yan Huan earlier, she had to hurry and delete it-there's no way Sakuramiya Hitomi would let anyone else take her picture here.

"Hey, but you're such a pretty girl, Miss! I'm a professional photographer, I'll take your photo for free, no charge at all."

The other party still refused to give up.

"."

Sakuramiya Hitomi kept smiling, saying nothing.

Just as the photographer in front of her was about to say something else, Yan Huan's voice suddenly came from behind,

"Didn't you hear? She said no photos."

Sakuramiya Hitomi blinked, and the photographers in front of her paused for a moment when they saw the person behind her, then put on apologetic smiles,

"Alright, bro."

"."

Did the President show any particular expression?

After the people in front had left, Sakuramiya Hitomi finally turned to look at Yan Huan, but his expression had already returned to its usual smiling look.

"Thank you, President."

"Of course."

Sakuramiya Hitomi glanced again at where those girls had been standing earlier, but now all of them had disappeared.

"Those girls who wanted to do photo collecting with the President earlier-didn't you take photos with them?"

"Ah, no."

Yan Huan looked at the long line still stretching ahead, smiling as he said,

"Sakuramiya, your family doesn't let you take photos or leave images outside, right?"

"That's right. After all, if anything spreads, it could affect my family."

"Yeah, so I just feel bad leaving you alone when you can't take photos, and besides, I don't really like taking photos myself."

Sakuramiya Hitomi's eyes narrowed slightly.

Her heart tightened, her body started to heat up, but her grip on the parasol only grew tighter.

As if afraid he would see, she tilted the parasol a bit more to hide her face.

"Do you dislike... taking photos?"

"Because seeing myself in photos makes me feel a bit... embarrassed?"

"Pfft, what kind of weird reason is that, President?"

Under the parasol, Sakuramiya Hitomi covered her mouth and giggled softly,

"But maybe, if you take more, you might get used to it?"

"That's true."

"Knock knock~"

Yan Huan's voice drifted over, and right after, Sakuramiya Hitomi felt the top of her parasol being gently tapped a few times.

It was just like a gentle knock on a door, making Sakuramiya Hitomi pause slightly.

That direction-

It was Yan Huan tapping on her parasol.

She shifted the parasol along her shoulder, revealing her face to Yan Huan.

Looking up at the handsome boy before her, she saw him raise his phone, smiling at her,

"So, Sakuramiya, should the two of us collect a stamp?"

"."

Sakuramiya Hitomi's lips parted slightly, and her eyes seemed to melt in the reflection of Yan Huan, sparkling with dazzling light.

"Okay, President."

Her answer was a little weak, even a bit nervous.

Her hand gripping the parasol turned white, and her chest felt so tight it was hard to breathe.

"Thump... thump... thump..."

Her heartbeat pounded like drumbeats, and Sakuramiya Hitomi silently changed her mind.

The photo collecting culture at conventions...

...is the best!!

(End of this chapter)