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

Page 146

It was as if her life before the accident was a previous life, completely unrelated to her current life.

Stepping over the cherry blossoms that were about to turn into soil, Xiangzi limped home.

"I think I just hurt my leg... My ankle seems a bit swollen... What bad luck..."

She sighed, thinking to herself.

What else can we do? This is all we can do.

I hope Ningzi will be home when I wake up tomorrow, and I hope my ankle won't swell up, otherwise it will affect my work.

"Ugh…"

If I had known, I shouldn't have quit my night job.

It's more reassuring to earn a little more money, isn't it?

Toyokawa Shoko has fully experienced the feelings of a down-on-his-luck middle-aged man.

Go back to your empty rented room, Toyokawa Shoko.

The blue twin-tailed figure grew smaller and smaller under the streetlights, finally disappearing into nothingness around the corner.

That's the way it is.

……

"Xiao Xiang!"

Toyokawa Ningko, who was looking out the window at the flying human head tea party, suddenly trembled.

Suddenly, she really wanted to see Xiangzi.

A strange feeling stirred within me.

Now! Immediately! Go see Xiangzi right now!

The kind of situation where you can't hesitate for even a moment!

If we can't see Xiangzi now...

Ningzi is definitely going to die! Absolutely! She'll die right now!

"Xiao Mu, please take me home. My sister seems to need me... really..."

Ningzi's words even carried a sob.

"Is this so..."

If Moku wanted to refuse, but it was Ningzi who said it…

"Ok."

What I wanted was already within my grasp.

If they simply refuse Ningzi's request to go home, they can have a cozy night together.

But... can it really be heartwarming?

“Turn around and head to Fengchuan, no, first take Su Shi home.”

While directing the driver, Wakaba Mutsu also noticed Nagasaki Motoyo.

She didn't want to reveal Ningzi and Xiangzi's address.

Especially the one who leaked it.

"Huh? Should I get home first...?"

"Yes, you're too tired, so I'll send you on your way first."

Nagasaki Motoyo was fiddling with her fingers, her mind brimming with unspoken words.

But she was too tired to express herself.

She lost all her power and means.

Perhaps Mu is right; I need to go home and get a good night's sleep.

Even the bicycle was carried onto the trunk by Mutsu and Ningko... Suze still doesn't know how to return the bicycle.

"Ugh."

Su Shi got off the car quickly, since this place was indeed the closest to Su Shi's home.

Mu was on guard against Su Shi, just as the sheepdog kept watch on the wolves outside the sheepfold.

She wanted to see Su Shi, but not Su Shi who was lingering around Ning Zi.

This is not a good tradition.

"Really, won't you come home with me? Just for one night... Please, sister."

Ruo Yemu pleaded softly, she really hoped that Ningzi could come to her house and help her dispel the lonely and gloomy atmosphere.

Can…

"I'm sorry, it's really not possible tonight. Xiao Xiang must be very anxious. Xiao Mu wouldn't want to see Xiao Xiang so anxious that she's jumping around, crying, and curled up in a ball, would she?"

"Um…"

Although disappointed by Ningzi's sudden decision, Ruoye Mu still forced herself to remain calm and rested against the car door.

She is a resilient cucumber; she doesn't easily reveal her emotions.

"Then, shall I stay at Xiao Mu's house again tomorrow or the day after? I'll bring my sister along, how about that?"

Can we please not bring Xiangzi along...?

Ruoye Mutsu originally wanted to say that, but she swallowed the words back.

She didn't want to see Xiangzi always staying by Ningzi's side, because that would mean Mu wouldn't have a chance to be alone with Ningzi.

If there's no time to be alone during an overnight stay, can it really be called an overnight stay?

Isn't that like you and the girl you like going out to stay at the same hotel, and she brings a guy along?

Toyokawa Shoko… oh dear…

If Ye Mu sighed again, just like Toyokawa Shoko on the other end of the phone.

"We've arrived, Miss."

"Ok."

"Let's go, Xiao Mu. Call me when you have time. Love you."

boom--

Ningzi didn't give Mu a chance to speak before quickly knocking on the door and leaving.

Mu watched Ningzi leave with a heavy heart.

"I love you too, Xiao Ning."

In the end, was Xiangzi still more important to Toyokawa Ningko? Yes, he was.

Wakaba Mutsumi, you've really gotten carried away.

Does Xiao Ning's forgiveness mean you have a chance to win her back?

Don't forget your past shameful behavior. Don't you know who made Ningzi the way she is now?

"It's my fault, it's my fault."

Wakaba Mutsumi found the black mid-calf socks crumpled up in her skirt pocket.

She just saw Nagasaki Motoyo try to pick it up.

If it's something that Su Shi really wants... it must be related to Ning Zi.

And this is definitely the type of socks that Ningzi wears most often.

As Ruoye Mu asked the driver to start the car again, she leaned back in her seat and rubbed her wet mid-calf socks in her pocket with her fingers.

It feels very familiar…

It felt like I was back in that basement from that day.

Hmm... I'll savor it slowly when I get home.

Interlude. I still want to stay at home.

The closer I get to home, the happier I become.

Toyokawa Ningko knew that this was because her loved ones and those who loved her were waiting for her return home.

"Xiao Xiang! I'm back! Aren't you surprised?!"

Click, click, click—three celebratory sounds as the door lock turned.

Seeing the lights on in your home after entering the house is such a happy thing.

Toyokawa Ningko barged into her home, startling Toyokawa Shoko, who was lying on the sofa rubbing her ankle.

"Xiao Ning?! Why are you back... Didn't Mu say you were very tired and wanted to take you out to stay for the night?"

Xiangzi hurriedly covered his legs with a cotton blanket.

"Hehe, because as soon as I woke up, I wanted to see Xiao Xiang! So I ran back right away! I missed you so much, Xiao Xiang! Waaah..."

That moment of longing felt like a transmission from a bond.

I was supposed to go to Mu's house tonight and bully Xiao Mu Zi Mi.

They bullied her until she screamed in pain.

But tonight, my heart is destined not to beat for either Wakaba Mutsumi or Nagasaki Motoyo.

This heart was being pulled by another heart from the same place; every beat of Xiangzi's heart would cause Ningzi's heart to rise and fall.

Ningzi took off all her clothes, her feet were still wet with seawater that had turned from black to white, and her hair was sticky and matted together.

But she didn't care about any of that.

The urge to get close to Xiangzi was becoming irresistible!

It takes a genius to remain unmoved by Xiangzi lying on the sofa wearing very little clothing.

"Well--"

Ningzi, who rushed straight into Xiangzi's arms, almost knocked her sister out of breath.

"Idiot! What's wrong with you!"

Ningzi hugged her sister and lifted her knee. Among the pink abrasions, you could even see the scabbed wounds.

"fine…"

"So, what about your ankle? What happened to your ankle? It's so swollen."

I twisted my ankle while walking...

"Idiot! Honestly! Did you fall down while you were looking for me?"

"..."

Silence is consent.

Toyokawa Ningko has already received the answer.

"I'm sorry for making you worry, I'm really sorry."

"...It's okay, it's good that you're back...When I got home and found you weren't there, my heart almost stopped."

"..."

It's all Nagasaki Motoyo's fault.

Ningzi didn't know why, but she saw a strange sense of déjà vu in Xiangzi.

It feels like the roles have been reversed. The current Xiangzi has become Ningzi, who used to play with beer cans like Lego at home all by himself, while I have become Xiangzi, who comes home irregularly and is often late.

So this is what Xiangzi felt?

How could this have happened?

Ningzi's small hands massaged Xiangzi's sprained ankle, and with each rub, Xiangzi would tremble involuntarily.