The Man with Hypnotic Powers Doesn’t Hold Back the Second Time Around

Chapter 161

Shia and Alice’s eyes met, their bodies tightly pressed against each other. They were so close that, with just a slight lean forward, they could easily kiss.

It felt like they were locked in a position that could make even a polar bear weep.

'Why am I the one who has to make up with this fox? Why does it seem like I’m the one in the wrong? She was the one who started it...'

‘Make up? I wasn’t even mad in the first place! As long as Shia just admits and apologizes, everything will be fine...’

- Glare.

Despite the supposed intention to reconcile, the tension between them was palpable.

‘What’s even going on over there? It sounds like they’re supposed to be making peace, but... What does Tetris have to do with any of this?’

- Deep contemplation.

"Chairman, shall we send in the standby team?"

"…Let’s wait a bit longer."

Even those monitoring the conversation had no clue what was happening, leaving them bewildered. But Yu-jin couldn’t have cared less.

A clean-cut young man glanced at the two of them, a bright smile on his face.

"Why aren’t you saying anything?"

"Well..."

"Then let’s start with you, Shia. What’s bothering you about Alice?"

And thus began the “Hypnosis Friendship Clinic” — hosted by none other than Yu-jin, the expert in hypnosis therapy, with Alice and Shia as his clients.

Shia’s brown eyes focused on Alice. To be specific, on her chest. Although her own wasn’t small, standing next to Alice, she couldn’t help but feel a bit... lacking.

'I don’t want to make up with this woman... but maybe it’s time Yu-jin learned how much of a pervert she really is.'

- Grits teeth.

"She’s a total pervert, and that’s the thing I hate most about her."

Shia’s words cut through the air, summarizing Alice in one harsh sentence.

Yu-jin tilted his head in confusion. What? Our Alice? The sweet, innocent one? A pervert?

"Shia? Alice isn’t..."

"W-what are you saying, Shia!?"

Alice, on the other hand, was visibly flustered. She knew, deep down, that she did have some unusual inclinations. After all, most people don’t stay up all night reading spicy comics.

"Stop slandering me!"

"Slander? All you ever talk about is how Ninomiya will sleep with someone, or how I will. Every time you open your mouth, it’s about that!"

"When did I ever say that!?"

Of course, Alice would never admit to it.

She’d already shown Yu-jin her bare body... if he thought she was a pervert on top of that, he’d misunderstand her as some easy girl who strips at a whim!

Shia opened her mouth to respond, exasperated, but—

"No, just a moment ago, in front of my dad—"

"Shia, that’s enough. Alice, you too."

"Huh? But you heard it too! My dad said—"

"I get it, but if we keep going back and forth like this, we’ll never get anywhere. From now on, let’s just listen without refuting, alright? Just think, ‘Oh, that’s how she feels.’”

Thanks to Yu-jin’s timely intervention, the argument was halted. The conversation, which seemed to be going in circles, finally made some progress.

"Alright, now it’s Alice’s turn. Is there anything about Shia that bothers you?"

"She’s way too harsh! She accuses me of being a pervert just because I have certain suspicions. And who’s she to talk, when she’s the one who’d declare she’d go to a motel with a guy in front of her own dad!"

"What?"

Shia’s mouth fell open in shock. She shot a look at Yu-jin, as if asking, ‘Is it my turn again?’

"Alright, Shia..."

"You’re the pervert. You’re the one who kept clinging to Yu-jin from the very first day, going on about ‘pine needles’ or whatever."

"That was..."

"And you’re always going on about ‘pine needle gazes’ while clinging to him. You think I enjoy watching you rub those fat lumps of yours all over him just because you’re drinking juice together?"

As soon as she got permission, Shia launched into a full-scale attack, poking at Alice’s weaknesses without mercy.

‘Our special connection — the “Pine Needle Club”... she’s really bringing that up?’

And Alice?

"Shia, you’re one to talk! Stop wearing those revealing outfits to seduce Yu-jin!"

"This is a multi-million-dollar artifact, I can’t just—"

"Sure, but you look so pathetic flaunting a chest that small."

Alice hit Shia right where it hurt, proving her strength as an Awakener.

Those watching were struck with fear.

‘Whoa, talking about Shia’s chest in front of her? She’s seriously risking it!’

‘To say that to my daughter... I mean, she is a bit lacking, but...’

‘Lady, please hold back! Don’t use your abilities here!’

Those who knew Shia, including Yu-jin, her father, and the other clan members, turned pale. A battle of Awakeners, a bloodbath, wouldn’t have been surprising at this point.

And Shia...

- Smirk.

"Yu-jin thinks mine are just fine, don’t you, Yu-jin?"

"Uh."

She tossed the bomb right at Yu-jin, as if telling him, ‘You better handle this well.’

"Well, yeah, Shia’s definitely above average..."

"So Yu-jin likes these pancake-like chests? He doesn’t care for bigger ones?"

"I-I never said I don’t like bigger ones! But, you know, Shia’s size is just right."

"If it’s too big, it gets sweaty underneath and doesn’t look good in clothes. I’m sure Yu-jin knows that."

"Is that true, Yu-jin? You don’t like big ones?"

"No, it’s not that I don’t like big ones! No guy doesn’t like them. It’s just, Shia’s size is perfectly fine!"

Yu-jin dodged expertly between the two women, his footing precarious with every step.

"..."

‘That bastard is talking about my daughter’s chest... I appreciate him defending her, but still...’

Shia’s father felt both pride and dismay.

"Alright, I’ll let that one slide."

"Thank you..."

"And now, it’s my turn to speak."

With the mutual accusations finally at rest, Shia turned her gaze back to Alice. She flashed a smile, her brown eyes glinting with malice.

"Anyway, are you really one to talk about perversion? Always talking about that stuff."

"...Huh?"

"Listen carefully, Yu-jin. Do you know what she’s like?"

And so began the exposé. Shia’s lips moved quickly, spilling the “truth” about Alice.

This girl? She’s been faking sickness just to get close to you in the infirmary since day one. Always acting all innocent while thinking dirty thoughts.

"Slandering again..."

"What do you even watch to come up with stuff like that?"

"...!!!?"

And then, a critical hit.

Shia’s remark had been offhand, but—

- Startled.

"I-I don’t watch that kind of stuff!!!"

It was a blow Alice couldn’t ignore. She was, after all, the one responsible for watching that kind of content.

Shia’s lips curled into a sly grin.

‘Judging by her reaction... she’s hiding something.’

"Yu-jin, why don’t you check her phone? I’m sure she’s got some questionable stuff on there."

Shia’s suggestion was brutal — asking for a phone check, something any young woman in her twenties would dread.

"Oh, um... Actually, wouldn’t it just be better to let Shia and Yu-jin have sex instead? I can always go second... or, you know, a threesome wouldn’t be bad eith—"

- Clenched fist.

‘...No, that’s unacceptable!’

Snapping out of her thoughts, Alice made up her mind.

"Actually, check Shia’s phone instead!"

"What? Why mine?"

"I bet there’s tons of lewd stuff on there! People who are this suspicious are usually the ones hiding things!"

She immediately turned the tables, reasoning that even Shia wouldn’t be comfortable showing Yu-jin her phone.

Shia’s response?

"Huh, then why don’t we both let him check?"

"...What?"

"Let Yu-jin look at both of ours. How about that?"

"A-Are you okay with that, Shia? Letting Yu-jin look?"

"I don’t watch anything weird."

Not even a flinch. After all, she and Yu-jin had already shared passionate kisses daily. Showing him her phone was nothing.

"Let’s settle this once and for all. If nothing comes up on your phone, I’ll apologize for calling you a pervert. But if there’s anything... you know what it means, right?"

"..."

Alice’s mouth shut tight, her comeback turning into her own downfall.

"Chairman, the cameras are set up. Should we turn them on?"

"No, and turn off the recording. This is intruding on their privacy."

"Isn’t that a bit late?"

"Since the misunderstandings have cleared, everyone, pull out..."

At least Yu-jin’s father’s suspicions were cleared. Watching his daughter hold her own in this “fight” left him feeling both proud and a little conflicted.

"..."

'Why is this turning out like this all of a sudden?'

Yu-jin, meanwhile, found himself in an awkward spot.

Holding both phones in his hands as they glared at him, he hesitated. Even though they were dating, wasn’t this crossing a line into their privacy?

"Alright, go ahead and open mine first."

Shia urged him, a triumphant smile on her face, confident she had nothing to hide.

After a moment, though…

"Uh, um... Shia, why is there... this kind of thing on your phone...?"

"...Why is that on my phone!? You think I actually watch stuff like that?!"

"Shia, you watch this kind of stuff too!?"

"You... you fox! Hand my phone back!!"

When the colossal misunderstanding erupted, Shia found herself sinking to Alice's level.