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

Page 17

"Relax, Ningzi, just keep an eye on me..."

The pianist spoke gently, his tone steady and powerful, like that of a seasoned musician.

What? Let me see.

Toyokawa Ningko's head buzzed—

The piano keys were marked with numbers, and different keys were distinguished by colors. Each key was like a happy little child, holding hands to welcome Ningzi and her pressure.

"Quickly step on us with your fingers!"

These are the demands of the piano keys.

"No... what should I do?"

"Follow the numbers, one, two, three, four, five. You can't even do this, can you...?"

The voice of Ningzi, who had run away, rang out again, but Ningzi looked around but couldn't find her.

But following the numbers shouldn't be too difficult, right?

灯—

The first note was unremarkable, so unremarkable that any human could play it.

But Ningzi tensed up as if she had been electrocuted.

It seems she can't see the keyboard anymore.

The piano keys in front of me have transformed into a naked Takamatsu lamp, and this blushing lamp is covered with black and white keys.

The numbers are still there; Ningzi just needs to press them.

"No, if you do that, I might fall in love with the piano!"

Ningzi pressed the navel of the [piano lamp], but the piano music she had imagined did not come. Ningzi only heard the lamp's soft hum.

"hiss…"

So Toyokawa Ningko devoted herself entirely to the world of music.

That's the way it is.

……

"Xiao Ning suddenly ran away, is she alright?"

Sitting in the classroom, Takamatsu was worried about Ningzi, but after much hesitation, she finally followed her out.

But where is Ningzi going?

Ningzi kept walking and stopping; was she looking for something?

Finally, Deng followed Ningzi to the music room. Ningzi lingered outside the door for a moment before pushing it open and entering. Deng followed closely behind, also peeking her head inside.

Ningzi… went inside and sat directly on the piano bench, as if performing some kind of ritual, and began to pray, and then…

Suddenly, he started playing the piano.

“Xiao Ning…”

The piano music was incredibly light and cheerful, perfectly capturing the performer's joyful mood, and the lamplight seemed to evoke fragments of beautiful memories from the past.

The tempo of the piece was getting faster and faster, and the player was undoubtedly a skilled pianist. The light showed Ningzi's fingers flying across the piano like dancing.

Ningzi's smile was so radiant... as if she had encountered something incredibly joyful, something she could cherish for a lifetime...

Is it because of the piano?

Ningzi's piano playing is as good as ever.

It was precisely because of Ningzi's outstanding piano skills that she was able to seamlessly take over Xiangzi's work in the band.

After all, if two people are sharing one identity, it's definitely not feasible if their skills aren't up to par.

The melody grew increasingly stirring and passionate, and even the lamp couldn't help but widen its eyes, captivated by the beautiful piano music…

This is Ningzi's skill level... I guess I still haven't tried hard enough...

Do my singing and lyrics really match Ningzi's? No, they don't.

That's why Xiangzi said back then that he hadn't tried hard enough...

After all, a mere mortal like myself, lacking talent, is utterly powerless in the face of true genius...

If I were to work a little harder and give it my all…

Am I qualified to stand beside Ningzi and prevent everyone from being disappointed...?

Even someone as talented as Ningzi practices diligently, while my diligence, which is clearly not yet at its peak, is never reflected upon. I really... I really...

"Xiao Deng! What are you doing sitting on the ground? Let's hurry up, class is about to start."

Takamatsu rubbed her eyes. In front of her, Ningzi, her face flushed, reached out her hand.

Ah, this scene again, holding hands for a lifetime...

"it is good!"

Ningzi's hands are so warm, and so slender and flexible.

Chapter 21. Can you listen to me play the piano for the rest of your life?

"Xiao Ning's performance is still so moving."

When Takamatsu heard the familiar piano music again several months later, a tear quietly slid down her cheek.

Wow, it actually sounds really good!

Toyokawa Ningko's lips trembled a few times.

She simply fiddled with the piano lamp for a while, then pressed the button wherever it would make the piano lamp beep the loudest.

I didn't even pay much attention to the numbers on the lamp; as long as it sounded pleasant, that was enough.

I didn't expect the lamp to like this kind of thing... I'll try pressing a real person next time.

"It sounds amazing, Xiao Ning..."

"Pfft, if Xiaodeng likes it, I'll play for you for the rest of my life."

Toyokawa Ningko held Takamatsu Akari's little hand as they strolled around the campus.

Although classes have already started, that's not important.

If the teacher asks, just say you're not feeling well and ask them to accompany you to the infirmary.

Humans aren't very smart anyway; they think this is one way and that is another, and they just believe whatever they hear.

"Ikkyu?"

Here we go again. Only two days have passed this week, and Ningzi has already said "forever" to herself countless times...

It feels so heavy... but surprisingly reassuring.

I want to feel this at ease for the rest of my life.

"Let's go back quickly."

Ningzi's little hands were very restless; while holding hands, she kept kneading Deng's little hands, as if this exquisitely carved treasure contained a charm from beyond the world.

Ningzi's actions made Deng, who was already embarrassed, speak even more softly.

"It's okay, Xiaodeng likes collecting stones, right?"

Ningzi remembered that when she saw the lamp yesterday, there were quite a few stones on the table opposite. Although she didn't recognize any of the varieties, those junks all had one thing in common:

That is, it looks pretty good!

"like…"

"Ta-da! My adorable lamp, I've been digging for you all night!"

Ningzi took a small cloth bag out of her skirt pocket, which contained several stones that caught her eye.

"Is this for me?"

The lamp took the stone with great surprise, and then took one out to admire it in its hand.

"Yes, they were all specially chosen for the lamps."

Ningzi accepted the lamp and said nothing more, a sly smile playing on her lips.

This is a lie!

The bag was a free gift from my stinky dad when he bought some expensive beer, and the stone was something I dug up in the school courtyard after my sister dropped me off at class that morning.

She was busy destroying evidence of her escape from prison last night, so she didn't have time to prepare a gift for Deng.

However, it seems that exaggerating the level of hardship was quite effective.

Seeing Gao Songdeng's satisfied expression, a sense of pride welled up from the depths of his heart.

She liked my gift.

She has me in her heart.

She loves me.

Well, I guess I'll reluctantly try to love her too.

"Xiaodeng, let's go back quickly, or it might be hard to explain later."

"Ah good!"

The lamp carefully stuffed the bag of stones into its pocket, intending to examine them more closely when it returned to the classroom.

Ningzi actually remembered her preferences; she had thought the other person had forgotten.

The shape of that stone was very special; it looked like a heart. Yes, it was a heart that Ningzi gave me.

Takamatsu Akari was led forward by Toyokawa Ningko. She turned her head to look at the ground, her thoughts gradually spreading out.

Ningzi... is so gentle, so kind...

She's so good to me...

The stones in my pocket were heavy.

Heavy stones are a symbol of happiness.

……

Are you feeling better now?

Another day passed easily as they played with Takamatsu's hair. Ningzi and Xiangzi walked hand in hand on their way home.

"Oh, oh, I feel much better now, I was just a little dizzy at the time."

Xiangzi was asking about the reason Ningzi had made up that morning.

Just as Ningzi expected, almost no one would question what a seemingly frail and pitiful blue-haired twin-tailed beauty said.

This is the kind of human being I least want to be: a group of people who excessively trust and excessively distrust their fellow human beings.

What's even more interesting is that someone like me, who despises my own kind, can always darkly criticize them from the bottom of my heart.

I guess I still hate being human.

"Ning, you can talk to me if you feel unwell in the future. I will prepare special medicine for you when you go to school."

"Okay~ I love you the most, sister, can I give you a kiss?"

"No... never mind, just kiss me then, sigh."

You can't stop her, you can't push her away. She wants a kiss, so even if she doesn't want to cooperate, she has to obediently listen.

That's not what I really want.

Xiangzi glanced at the green belt beside her, pretending not to care, as if something special was attracting her there.

"Hehe, then I'll start eating without being polite."

"Hurry up..."

Ningzi's lips quickly pressed against Xiangzi's face, the soft, supple touch fleeting like a dragonfly skimming the water, leaving Xiangzi feeling as if in a dream.

Is this the love from my sister?