Are you, as meal replacement users, ready for the consequences?

Page 18

It's weird, but I like it.

"Remember to eat your lunch when you get home. Did you not have an appetite yesterday?"

The topic that Xiangzi brought up casually caused Ningzi, who had been grinning, to shrink in surprise.

I knew you'd ask that. I spent a whole day brainstorming this, damn it.

“Yesterday… I started feeling unwell and didn’t have much of an appetite.”

See! This excuse is linked to the excuse I used to skip class this morning!

It's absolutely flawless! I, Toyokawa Ningko, truly deserve the title of "Master of World-Shaking Wisdom".

"is that so."

Xiangzi didn't think much of it, shrugged, and brushed the topic aside.

She knew her sister was definitely hiding something from her, but since her sister didn't want to talk about it, she let it go.

After all, Ningzi needs some privacy.

As long as it's not something dangerous.

Is it something dangerous?

Right.

Is it right…

Shoko Toyokawa glanced uneasily at Ningko, who was smiling very gently, and then suppressed her own thoughts.

My little sister is so cute, how could she possibly be disobedient and cause trouble for herself?

Nonsense.

My sister... is absolutely fine!

The unpleasant past is over, and the hospital diagnosis shows that Ningzi is perfectly normal... Stop scaring yourself, Toyokawa Shoko!

Ningzi shook Xiangzi's hand and, before the other could react, pressed it against her face.

"Hehe, sister's hands are so warm, can I use them to cover my face?"

It was called an inquiry, but it was really just stating a fact that had already happened.

Xiangzi's hands were small and soft; just by playing with them for a few moments, one could tell that they were precious and rare treasures.

There's no hair on the back of my hands, and my palms never sweat. My lovely nails are regularly trimmed, and my hangnails are kept very clean…

I love your hands so much, I want to play with them forever.

Ningzi stuck her tongue out at Xiangzi.

My little darling, if you ever dare to abandon me again, I'll soak your hands in formaldehyde!

Chapter 22. Is it possible to meet someone by chance for a lifetime?

Tuesday, April 16th.

"Remember to heat up the food for your father."

"Okay."

boom-

It's so hot, it's so annoying.

Xiangzi left; she went to work, leaving Ningzi alone at home to keep her father company before she left.

Toyokawa Ningko held her breath and silently counted down in her mind.

100 ... 99 ...

3...2...1...

After counting, Ningzi quickly took out her phone and her nimble fingers tapped rapidly on the screen.

Neko: Little lamp, where are you?

Ningzi only dared to secretly contact Gao Songdeng after confirming that Xiangzi had left.

As for why he didn't look out the window, what if Xiangzi happened to turn around and see him? That way, Xiangzi would be more cautious.

To be on the safe side, it's much safer to squat by the door and count down.

Ding-

To her surprise, Takamatsu replied to her message instantly.

Tomori (lamp): I'm home, Xiaoning.

Are you home yet? That's interesting.

Ningzi leaned against the security door, a cute smile curving upwards at the corners of her mouth.

Neko: Little Lamp, I miss you, I want to see you.

If you want to play the piano, it's best to have a live performance.

Tomori: Huh?

Neko: Doesn't Little Light want to see me?

The other person replied a minute later, seemingly processing the content of the conversation.

Tomori: See me! I also... want to see Ning!

Ningzi struggled to get up, grabbed the doorknob, and went to the balcony to take down the teddy bear hanging on the clothes rack.

She didn't rush to reply to Deng's message, letting Deng worry a little longer.

Ningzi reluctantly put her father's dinner into the microwave, and after a minute, regardless of whether it was heated properly, she placed it at his door.

Ningzi tiptoed back to her bedroom.

Only then did she take out her phone to type.

Neko: Little Lamp, I've come to find you.

The person who had been texting while hiding under the covers turned off the lights suddenly sat up in bed.

Xiao Ning... are you coming to see me?

Tomori: Sure, is Xiaoning coming to my house?

Come to your house? Sure, but I don't know your address.

Neko: Sure, send me the address of the lamp family.

Puzzled, Deng got out of bed, put on her slippers, and paced back and forth in the room.

Doesn't Ningzi know her own address? That shouldn't be the case, since Xiangzi has come here several times before...

Back when Crychic was still around, people used to come downstairs to wait for her.

If Ningzi doesn't know her home address... then the previous reasoning has a flaw...

But if the previous reasoning was wrong, Deng really couldn't think of any way to explain it all.

Gao Songdeng raised his phone and continued typing.

Tomori: Xiaoning, don't you remember where I live?

Without even thinking, Toyokawa Ningko typed the message:

Neko: Little Lamp, you're so forgetful! Didn't I say I forgot some things when I was sick and hospitalized? How come you don't remember this?

Forgot your address? No way, I never remembered it. Watch me continue making things up.

The situation has now become that Deng didn't listen to Ningzi properly and didn't remember what the other person said.

How will you cope with this sudden torture, my lovely lamp?

Sure enough, Takamatsu's brain went blank when he saw that sentence.

Ningzi had told me...about her illness?

Why don't I have this memory anymore...?

If that's the case, then everything makes sense!

Ningzi was ill, but she insisted on performing for the band. As for continuing to use her sister's name...

Is it because you're afraid of making everyone worry if you're not feeling well?

She was afraid that everyone would care too much about her... so she had her healthy sister take her place, so as not to upset her bandmates...

She really... I cried to death...

Gao Songdeng felt the shackles binding his mind gradually loosening, and he felt... he was getting infinitely close to the truth.

So Xiangzi left the team because he had to take care of Ningzi, who wasn't feeling well!

After all, it was so severe that they lost part of their memory.

But Ningzi actually remembered herself and everyone else... Even though her health was so poor, all she could think about were other people.

You really are someone who thinks about everyone.

Gao Songdeng hid back under the covers. To be honest, she was shocked by her own thoughts.

This idea completely explained everything she had experienced, and after eliminating all other possibilities, this only possibility was undoubtedly the answer.

After all, Ningzi had no reason to make up stories to deceive her.

Tonori: Are you sick? I'm sorry, I forgot. Are you alright now?

Toyokawa Ningko couldn't help but smile when she saw the message from Takamatsu Akari.

How are you? I'm perfectly fine.

Neko: Of course, you silly little lamp, how could you come to school if you weren't good?

Tomoti: Oh, I see. I sent the address to Xiaoning.

Neko: Okay.

Planned Access?

Foolish little fish, humans are all idiots after all.

……

"See you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow."

Nagasaki Motoyo squinted and gently said goodbye to each of the passing classmates.

Today was another disappointing day.

As Nagasaki Motoyo walked home, the bright spring sunshine made her feel warm, but the chill in her heart did not dissipate.

Today I asked Xiaomu again if she knew about Xiangzi's current situation, but Xiaomu's answer was still silence.

Silence, silence, silence…

Silently watering the cucumbers, so silent that Su Shi could hardly breathe.

Ruo Yemu must know something. She and Xiangzi were childhood sweethearts, so even if she wasn't very clear about Xiangzi's situation, she should at least know the general idea.

But why won't you tell me?

Everyone went their separate ways; the only ones I could find were Shiina Tatsuki, who was working part-time, and Wakaba Mutsumi, who was at school…

Why is this happening? What went wrong? Did I play poorly this game?

Nagasaki Motoyo gripped her bag tightly.

"Xiao Xiang..."

Where did you go? You left the Moon Forest, you left everyone, you left me…

Since leaving the rehearsal room that day, Toyokawa Shoko has never replied to my messages again.

No matter how hard Su Shi tried to bother her, Xiangzi acted as if her phone was out of service due to unpaid bills, and didn't even look at what Su Shi posted.

Those unread messages left Nagasaki Motoyo feeling exhausted.