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

Page 90

Ningzi once heard a philosopher say that when you lose something, it doesn't really disappear.

It will always lurk beside you, returning at the most unexpected time.

That bottle of medicine has now returned.

"Impossible, I definitely put it on Ningzi...it was definitely on the tram, it couldn't possibly have come back to me..."

Inside the pocket of the school uniform skirt, that ominous ghost was huddled among a stack of banknotes.

"How could this be? How could we not have noticed it when we put the money in..."

Cold sweat broke out on my forehead, but it wasn't just my forehead; the back of my clothes also showed faint signs of being damp.

Toyokawa Ningko heard a joke about a friend who told her that he had read a terrible book, so he decided to throw it into a lake to destroy it.

To play a prank, that person bought an identical copy, soaked it in water, and placed it on their friend's bedside table.

Unfortunately, Toyokawa Neko has now become that person's friend.

However, "that person" never appeared to play any pranks on her.

"It's like...a haunted place."

"What's wrong? Did you realize you forgot your wallet?"

How gentle Hailing's joking tone was compared to the medicine bottle in her pocket.

"No, I brought it... I brought it..."

Ningzi forced out an awkward smile, and when she paid the bill and left, she was unsteady on her feet.

Are you feeling unwell again?

Hailing carried the teddy bear that Ningzi had given her, while also helping Ningzi walk towards the mall exit.

"No, it's just that the air conditioning here is too cold, and I'm not used to it."

“Is that so?” Yawata Kairin thought for a moment. “Is your cold still not better? What about the cold medicine you took last time? Do you have any left? If you don’t have enough, tell me the brand and I’ll go buy some for you.”

"..."

If it weren't for mentioning that damned little thing, Hailing's well-intentioned greeting would have had a huge impact on Ningzi.

The medicine bottle in her pocket was burning hot; Ningzi felt like her thigh was about to be burned open.

[Hailin is right. Have I really been taking this medicine for so long...? How many pills have I taken in the past week?]

Sometimes it's like the body is finding its own medicine.

[Instead of wanting to take this medicine...]

No, I can't keep thinking like this.

"Xiao Hai, I'm going home now. See you after school tomorrow."

With a heavy wave, she bid farewell once again, and Ningzi's figure gradually disappeared into the distance, while Hachiman Kairin stood there, unable to move forward.

"Something feels off, but I can't quite put my finger on what's wrong."

Hailing plays with the teddy bear in her hand, the pick hanging around her neck and the pink teddy bear complementing each other, forming the entire connection between Hailing and Ningzi.

"Is this what belonging is?"

She stood there until Ningzi's figure disappeared around the corner before turning away.

"It's such a pity. I thought Xiao Ning would turn around and take a look."

But I'm already very satisfied, Hachiman Kairin, please don't be greedy.

Ok…

As much as possible.

……

"Aine! Have you packed your schoolbag? Tomorrow is your first day of school! Are you still playing Pokémon?!"

"Okay, Mom! I'll go get ready right away... Haha, just five minutes! Five minutes will be enough!"

"Hurry up! Your dad will be home soon, and dinner will be ready in no time!"

"Okay, okay! Don't rush me!"

Ai Yin hid behind the door, blankly putting down the Switch in her hand.

She genuinely didn't know what to do next.

I wanted to chat with someone but I didn't have any friends to talk to. I sent a message to Ningzi but it remained unread.

It was as if the other person was shopping with a black-haired, green-eyed female bassist whose sexual orientation was abnormal, and there was absolutely no chance to reply to the message.

"Aaaaaah! These days are finally coming to an end..."

Tomorrow is the official start of school, and Ai Yin has been notified that she will be assigned to Class A of the first year.

Is Ningzi in Class A? I asked and got no reply... Ningzi is really irresponsible.

"Luckily I didn't tell Xiao Ning that I'm going to report for duty tomorrow. Hehe, I'll give Xiao Ning a surprise!"

Chihaya Aine could already picture Ningzi's expression in her mind; her exquisitely beautiful face must be filled with countless surprises and joy!

Then Ningzi would hold her hand and say, "Oh my god, I didn't expect Xiao Ai to be here too! Come and be my deskmate! Let's start a wonderful campus life together!"

Ah, how youthful...

Chihaya Aine chuckled to herself, her "hehehe" laughter echoing in her spacious bedroom.

"Just thinking about my future life with Xiaoning makes the shadow of my failed study abroad experience seem a bit lighter..."

Come on, future! I can't wait to welcome you!

Chihaya Aine's youthful daily life is absolutely no problem!

……

"My daily life during my youth is full of problems..."

Dragging her tired and stiff body back to her rented room, Toyokawa Ningko leaned against the door for a long time, unwilling to get up.

"Tell me, why did you come back?"

Facing the full-length mirror, Ningzi threw the medicine bottle into the distance, and all that could be heard was the clanging sound of the pills hitting the bottle.

"Lemon! Come out here! Did you bring this thing back?"

Ningzi made a megaphone shape with her hand and weakly called out to the little monsters inside her body.

I really can't understand it. They told me to stop taking the medicine, but then brought it back after I threw it away...

What a contradiction, Ningzi, you're so contradictory.

"It wasn't me..."

"Who asked you?"

"You."

Ningzi could hear Ningzi's voice, but she couldn't see her.

"Here..."

The "Ningzi" in the mirror opposite yawned, her eyes showing almost tangible fatigue.

"What do you mean, 'not you'?"

"I don't know either... but I'm logging off now."

"Ok?"

"It's good that I'm downloading this; it means you're back to normal now."

"You're not allowed to leave. Explain yourself first."

Holding the frame of the mirror with both hands, Ningzi disliked riddle-makers who left things unfinished.

"I can't say right now...she's watching me..."

Lemon, this friend who appeared for a short time but was exceptionally reliable, was not so omnipotent this time.

"Forget it, stop talking. The more you talk, the less I understand."

Toyokawa Ningko flipped the mirror over, physically interrupting Ningzi's appearance.

"Tsk..."

Annoying, annoying, all these annoying things. Lemons should die, medicine should die, the god who invented poverty should die, and I, who am so unfortunate, don't even deserve to live.

She wanted to roar at the top of her lungs, but when she tried to say something, Ningzi realized how powerless she was.

She looked at her handbag and took out a bright green teddy bear.

"At least I still have you, little bear... I'm going to call you..."

"Cucumber Bear".

Chapter 119. Chihaya Aine joins the battle!

Turn the key three times.

"Xiao Ning, I'm back!"

Xiangzi, clutching her aching head, pushed open the door, and the next instant, something soft and warm pressed against her leg.

"Huh? How come this child fell asleep right at the door?"

It was even more embarrassing than when I fainted on the table last time.

"This child, did he accidentally fall asleep while waiting for me to come home?"

Seriously, you idiot Xiao Ning.

Xiangzi tried to pick up Ningzi, and the process went much more smoothly than she had imagined.

Toyokawa Ningko is very light, exceptionally light. Picking up Ningko is definitely much easier than picking up a basket of cucumbers.

Moreover, because holding Ningzi is very comfortable, it even gives the person holding her a strength buff.

Ningzi has been eating very little, possibly due to her unstable mental state leading to poor appetite. She only eats a little more when certain special foods are served.

For example, Ningzi's favorite fruit platter.

Before long, Xiangzi had carried Ningzi back to her room.

Thanks to Mutsumi Wakaba, the bedroom has been completely renovated and is much more comfortable than it was two weeks ago.

Xiangzi had always worried that the house was too dilapidated and might leak. This concern was only dispelled after Mu asked his parents to pay for the rental house to be bought from the landlord and then renovated it.

Now, Xiangzi only needs to pay the rent to Ruoye Mu every month, which is convenient and won't hurt his remaining self-esteem.

God knows the shock and helplessness Muhe felt when she told herself that she had bought the place where Ningzi and she were living.

"Mu has always been reliable and always considers many things."

“Although she sometimes doesn’t speak completely… with Mutsu here, Ningzi will be safer.”

Xiangzi turned on the small desk lamp, and the gentle, intoxicating orange light shone on Ningzi's cheeks.

"So cute, it must be having a sweet dream, it's even humming and whimpering."

I'll record it for Ningzi later and play it on repeat to amuse her.

Toyokawa Shoko envisioned the future.

I'll encourage Ningzi to study harder in the future, so we can both get into a better university.

After I go to university, I'll have more free time, and I'm sure I'll be able to manage the relationship between work, study, and family much better.

Mu wouldn't raise the rent, so Xiangzi didn't have to live in fear of unpredictable expenses every day.

"After deducting daily expenses and miscellaneous costs such as tuition, I can still save a lot of money every month."

Less than a year of experience transformed Toyokawa Shoko into a skilled worker with a keen eye for numbers.

Only by watching his savings increase little by little, no matter how slow the increase, could Toyokawa Shoko feel more secure.

If I have more money in the future, could I quit some jobs and try my luck in the music industry again...?

Form a commercial band?