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

Page 66

"This is your salary for these supporting roles. I was originally planning to give it to you at the end of the month, but it doesn't matter if I give it to you now."

Hai Ling wanted to place the two Fukuzawa Yukichi cards in her hand on Ningzi's head.

However, considering that the money wasn't entirely clean, Hailing ultimately held the 20,000 yen in her hand near Ningzi's nose.

Sniff--

"Huh? What's this?!"

This is the wonderful smell of money!

Ningzi took her salary and turned to look at Hailing with a look of surprise.

"It's a salary. Supporting actors get paid, didn't you know?"

"There's actually a reward! I thought we were just some nameless guitar heroes who played out of interest!"

"How could that be? Do you think you're a magical girl? You're just a typical chuunibyou girl."

However, Ningzi is a chuunibyou (middle school syndrome) girl who doesn't experience much joy.

"Wow...two of these can buy a lot of things, right?"

Ningzi immediately perked up, repeatedly crumpling the banknote in her hand in disbelief.

Xiangzi goes out to work every day to earn money, just to pay for rent, food, and tuition, right?

I'm actually a reliable, almost-adult capable of earning money!

"Can I spend them? Um, I mean, can I use them to buy things and make purchases?"

Her tone carried a pitiful helplessness, as if she were holding not a large sum of money, but an unpredictable, random piano girl.

"Of course you can. The money is yours now, and you can use it however you want."

Although Hailing gave Ningzi almost all of their combined salaries, it didn't matter.

Hailing gently rubbed Ningzi's little head, which was warm and didn't resist being touched.

"I didn't expect it to actually be salary! That's great!"

You could buy your sister a new little blanket, or treat her to her favorite drink... what's it called, Darjeeling?

I can also buy some fresh food for my sister, and then I'll have enough money to buy a fruit platter for myself...

Wow, I suddenly feel so happy!

My troubles were indeed caused by insufficient funds! If there are troubles that money can't solve, it's simply because I don't have enough money!

"Humph!"

Ningzi repeatedly counted the two large bills in her hand, and finally excitedly pecked Hailing on the cheek.

"Mua! Thank you, Hailing!"

"It's just your normal salary."

The sensation on her face was wonderful; Hailing felt as if this gentle kiss had touched her very soul.

Is this the reward for giving Ningzi most of both of their salaries? That's such a good deal!

Although I'm not a female contact, I'm not at all averse to kisses from cute ladies.

They even felt physically and mentally happy.

"Hehe, I'm super happy! Hailing, do you want to see the piece I composed... Ah, I didn't say anything and you didn't hear anything either."

"What song is it? I want to see it. I'll come get it myself from where it is."

"No, no, I was just too excited and my head went blank..."

Ningzi hugged her handbag tightly, gripping the notebook inside.

Damn it, Toyokawa Neko, do you have some kind of illness? You just blurt everything out.

Is this something that can be shown to others?

If Yawata Kairin saw a whole sheet of paper with words like "button," "press," or "twist" written on it...

Won't people misunderstand? It really feels like I wrote about the Little Imperial Uncle and someone accidentally found out.

Ningzi put away her salary and looked down at the piano, Hailing.

Piano Hailin and real Hailin had basically the same expression, both staring at her with smiles.

"Do you really want to see it?"

"real."

"..."

"Forget it, I'll play it for you, Hailing. It's all the same, all the same. Don't worry about the sheet music, because... well, my handwriting is messy and ugly, so don't pollute your eyes."

Ningzi's fingertips traced the belly button of the piano Hailing, and she waited for Hailing's reply.

"sure."

"Then I'll begin."

So Toyokawa Ningko closed her eyes and pressed down with trembling fingertips.

thump—

Ch87. Chihaya Aine, how majestic!

thump—

thump——

"Phew, so tired... How are you, Hailing... Hailing?"

As the last note faded away, the solo performance in the rehearsal room came to an end with Ningzi's nimble fingers.

Yawata Kairin stood frozen in place, listening to the keyboard from beginning to end without uttering a word.

She was now starting to doubt her ears.

“I’m here,” Hachiman Kairin paused briefly, gathering her thoughts, “Neneko, I’d like to ask, how long did it take you to write this piece?”

Ningzi just said, "Look at the music you composed," right? So this song...

"Hmm, one class period? Is it written too hastily? I'm sorry, Hailing, just listen to it as it is, treat it as one of those funny songs that will make you laugh."

"Oh, so it took a year to write... Hmm? One class period?"

Kairin Hachiman seriously doubted whether she was hallucinating due to long-term fatigue.

Ningzi's casual playing in the past was indeed full of attraction, and its unique charm was simply overwhelming—the kind of songs could only be created by a genius who was unprecedented and unparalleled in the past, and such a genius was extremely creative and imaginative, and his talent was rare in contemporary times.

The nameless tune that had ended just seconds before made Hachiman Kairin's brain tremble.

The fact that Toyokawa Ningko could create such a piece... if she didn't sacrifice her soul to a demon in exchange for this talent, then it's truly terrifying.

The absolute strength, and the loneliness that comes with it, will teach the world that the gap in talent between people can be so vast…

Toyokawa Ningko.

Yawata Kairin stared at Ningzi, lost in thought.

She remembered very clearly that on the day she met Toyokawa Ningko, her talent was not yet so brilliant, and her attitude towards the piano was not like playing a performance but more like... digging a hole.

But just a few days later, the other person was already able to touch the piano with the same gentle yet powerful touch as if it were their lover.

Despite having encountered all sorts of strange and unsavory characters throughout her life, Hachiman Kairin could only sigh in genuine admiration for geniuses like Toyokawa Ningko.

I'm already infatuated with you, Lady Ningzi... Lady Ningzi still hasn't used her full strength.

Standing in front of Toyokawa Ningko, Hachiman Kairin truly felt the gap between people, perhaps even greater than that between humans and pigs.

"Come back to reality! What's wrong? Even if it sounds bad, it doesn't have to be this bad!"

Ningzi waved her fair little hand in front of Hachiman Kairin's eyes again and again, as if she wanted to shake out the other's soul and knead it into a golden elixir.

"No, it sounds great."

"Huh? Are you serious? This kind of thing..."

"I'm serious, I swear this song is really good. To borrow a phrase from one of my short-tempered, black-haired classmates:"

Yawata Kairin remembered a panda enthusiast who hadn't been feeling too happy lately.

"I grew ears just to listen to this song! So, your music is really amazing, Ningzi!"

"Yes! Yes!! Is that so!"

"Yes, yes! Xiao Ning, your music is absolutely fantastic! What's it called? Could I hear a little more of it?"

A large pink dog pushed open the door and entered, its excitement evident in its expression.

Chihaya Aine happened to be at Ring again today, and coincidentally, while chatting with the owner, we talked about the currently popular supernova band Mercenaries, and quite coincidentally, we also talked about the band's genius keyboardist.

Although the proprietress seemed reluctant to discuss the topic of this keyboard genius, various complex expressions appeared on her face when the subject was mentioned…

Finally, I happened to chat about the recent activities of this duo, and coincidentally decided to take a stroll around the area. Luckily, I found the rehearsal room where Ningzi and Hailing were.

"Little...Ai!"

Ningzi and Hailing looked in unison at the pink miscellaneous fish who almost tripped and fell because of its unsteady center of gravity.

Ningzi usually looks at these small fry with sympathy.

"Hahaha, Xiao Ning, I just happened to be passing by and heard some really beautiful music, so I came over to listen, and I never expected to hear your voice!!!"

Chihaya Aine blinked her big, starry eyes and exchanged admiring glances with Ningzi.

Aine's gaze was intense and lingering, giving Ningzi goosebumps.

It was exactly the way I looked at Xiaodeng.

"Hmm? Is this your friend, Xiao Ning?"

“Yes, Hailin, this is Chihaya Aine, my friend.”

Ignoring the fact that Chihaya Ayane's appearance interrupted their conversation, Hachiman Kairin gracefully extended her right hand:

"Nice to meet you. My name is Hachiman Kairin. I'm Ningzi's bandmate and friend."

"Hello, hello! I'm Chihaya Aine! I'm Neko..."

Chihaya Aine's smile froze.

She actually wanted to say they were childhood sweethearts.

However, isn't this identity a bit too superficial?

If you have to flaunt your relationships from kindergarten, won't it make you seem a bit stingy?

Are you unable to offer any other reliable connections?

"I'm Ningzi's good friend."

I guess so, it definitely is.

Aine stared at Hachiman Kairin. She had observed her from afar before, when she was waiting outside the Ring for Ningko to be alone.

This woman is clearly the epitome of eccentricity; even a random blade of grass picked from the roadside would be straighter than her.

Moreover, Chihaya Aine can always smell the scent of her kind on the other person.

So! There's no mistake! This guy definitely has ulterior motives towards my cute little Ning!

Letting such a dangerous guy stay next to Ningzi! Isn't that a bit too inconsiderate of safety, you idiot Ningzi!

Aine pushed up her imposing black-rimmed glasses and gracefully extended her hand to shake hands with Hachiman Kairin.

Hmm? X2

The two high school girls frowned slightly at the same time, then silently resumed their normal expressions.

This guy's nails are cut so short! X2

They must have ulterior motives! X2

Ningzi remained seated on the piano bench, her elbow resting on the center of the piano's frame, quietly observing the two figures whose hands seemed glued together.

Huh? They kept shaking hands and never stopped... Is this some kind of modern way of greeting and communicating?

She inadvertently lowered her head, and after her gaze briefly lingered on the electronic keyboard, she couldn't look away.