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

Page 12

"Shut up! Stop talking and stay away from me!"

Ningzi could no longer tolerate the babbling of this damn cat, so she stood up and growled in a low voice in the direction of the nasty creature.

I'm so angry! What nonsense are you talking about? What meal replacement? Did you eat too much cat food and lose your brain?

The more I think about it, the angrier I get. I really want to tear everything around me to shreds, into pieces and strips so that they can't even be put back together.

The lamp is mine, Xiangzi is mine, I…

Toyokawa Ningko's heart skipped a beat.

Ok…

Are they really mine?

Honestly, I know they are not mine; these are just my own perceptions.

Imposing my ideas on others means that no one truly loves me.

That's perfect, I'm not worthy of being loved either. I have no redeeming qualities, and I'm sometimes too enthusiastic, which annoys others.

What am I living for? I've already said I don't want to be human anymore, yet I still have the nerve to live in this world waiting for someone to love me.

I'm disgusting...

With her temper flaring up, Toyokawa Ningko collapsed weakly into a ball.

What right do I have to comment on the cat? It's just expressing its own opinion, and that opinion can't be proven false.

If Takamatsu Akari were to kiss someone else, what would that have to do with me?

If Toyokawa Shoko were to leave me today, would it really matter?

What are they to me? They are my dearest loves. But what am I to them?

Can feelings truly be exchanged equally? Not necessarily. No one has ever truly loved me wholeheartedly; everyone has their own secrets.

My head was nestled in my knees, and the surrounding light seemed to be dimming.

Meal replacements…yes, I may have replaced meals for others too.

What I truly want is someone who loves me 100%. Even if it's just one percent less, I might consider them inferior, incomplete, or unqualified.

Aren't all the imperfect ones the most perfect meal replacements?

So... are you all just meal replacements to me? What a ridiculous joke.

I feel so disgusted...

Do I, a lowly creature, even deserve to be called human?

The correct answer should never be "I don't want to be human anymore," but rather "Do I even deserve to be human?"

Bastard, Toyokawa Ningko, coward.

Haha, I'm so ridiculous.

"Ningzi? How are you?"

What? Who's calling me?

"Why are you crying? Are you alright?"

This looks familiar. Who are you?

I want to look up at the other person, but who will comfort me?

Xiangzi and the lamp were inside the house, while I was alone outside. The door was not open. Who in this school still recognized me?

"Lift your head up, stop crying."

Well then, shall we raise our heads a little?

Toyokawa Ningko carefully raised her head, observing the area ahead intently.

There was no one there.

He was still all alone in the long corridor.

Was it just...a hallucination?

Just like a non-existent perfect lover, at this moment, the only thing that can comfort me is wishful thinking.

It's not so bad, at least I can imagine that someone loves me, right?

If Mom were still here, I would receive so much more love, I definitely would, if that day were peaceful…

Ah... what happened to Mu? I can't remember.

"Is there anything you'd like to eat tonight?"

"What?"

Then another voice came, this time it was Xiangzi's voice.

This illusion will be updated again, right? Xiangzi's voice pack is really good, thumbs up! I'll use this for my next dream narration too.

"I said, what are we having for dinner? Get up, you idiot, aren't you cold sitting on the floor?"

I want to eat a meal replacement tonight...

Shoko Toyokawa tapped Ningzi on the head in confusion. The child had been sitting on the ground in a daze for more than a minute, ignoring her even though she was right in front of him.

Is it because school is too tiring?

"Xiangzi? Are you really Xiangzi?"

"Could it be fake? Let's hurry up, I have to go to work soon."

"Oh, let's go... let's go..."

Ningzi was dazed and confused as she was pulled up, then followed Xiangzi downstairs in a daze.

Wait, where's my lamp?

At the top of the stairs, Toyokawa Ningko tried to clear her head as she gazed at the Astronomy Club not far away.

Just then, Takamatsu came out from inside, and Ningzi could see the melancholy look in his eyes.

The emotions within seem quite complex.

Ningzi didn't know what it was; all she knew was that she wouldn't see any lights today.

If only the lamp could move in with us too.

Gao Songdeng also looked in the direction they left, her gaze meeting Ningzi's.

You won't get rid of me... (lamp)

I wonder if the light can read my eyes.

Ningzi and Xiangzi disappeared around the corner.

Ch15. Same City, Similar Souls

"Sister, what did you talk about with Deng?"

On her way home from school, Ningzi played hopscotch along the sidewalk, occasionally letting out a soft gasp because she took too big a step.

Xiangzi kept an eye on Ningzi, ready to help her up if she lost her balance and was about to fall.

"It's nothing, I just wanted to find out what happened. Deng is a very good person, and I don't want there to be any misunderstanding between us."

Although misunderstandings still exist, the information gap cannot be bridged in a short period of time.

"Oh, so you're clearing up the misunderstanding? You two must have a good relationship, right? Xiang."

"Idiot Ning, I already said we were friends before, but we were indeed very close back then."

Some people lose money the whole way and can only say goodbye on the overpass, while others are taken home on the very first day they meet, right, Lixi?

"Really... Are you really that close..."

With her head down and a low whisper, Ningzi turned to look at Xiangzi and smiled gently.

She remembered the dead stray cat she encountered at school, and the various suspicions she had during the day.

But how could that be? Xiangzi couldn't possibly have anything to do with lamps.

It's all just wishful thinking, all just wishful thinking...

If it's true...

Then I'll strangle you all to death.

"Can Ningzi stay home and not run around?"

Perhaps due to excessive stress lately, Xiangzi felt a chill run down his spine when he caught a glimpse of Ningzi's adorable smile.

"Running away? No way, Ningzi is the most obedient. Ningzi swears she will stay home and wait for her older sister."

Ning Zi smiled sweetly: "But, sister, you have to come home on time."

My sister came home on time yesterday and the day before, even quite early, which made Ningzi very happy.

But since she's a bad older sister with a criminal record, I still have to remind her from time to time.

"I'll keep an eye on it, and remember to heat up Dad's food too."

When Xiangzi mentions his father, his face darkens instinctively. Although he doesn't say anything to complain, Ningzi feels:

Xiangzi still has some resentment towards his father, doesn't he?

Recently, we've been accumulating more and more empty wine bottles at home, and Ningzi often uses them to build houses for fun.

After all, the little teddy bear said he wanted to live in a villa.

"Xiangzi, what kind of person is Deng?"

"He's a very good person, if you're just friends."

"Just as friends?"

"Hmm, we're home. Ningzi, go inside now. I'm going to work. Remember to lock the door."

"Okay, see you in a bit."

Xiangzi dropped Ningzi off downstairs and then left for work. Today he took a detour to take his sister home, hoping it wouldn't interfere with her perfect attendance record.

The money deducted for being late is enough to buy Ningzi an omelet rice.

Toyokawa Ningko stood at the window watching Shoko walk away, only leaving the window after his figure disappeared around the corner like a spring day.

She didn't want to stay at home, not even for a moment.

Previously, she had never been to school and was ordered to stay at home and not run around.

The outside world represents danger and insecurity; in her eyes, the world is only the size of the house.

Now she has discovered some of the wonders of the world and has begun to be curious about things she had never seen before.

For example, the tall pine lamps in the school.

If she had never seen the light, darkness was tolerable for her.

The situation is different now.

The outside world is a place where you can find more love and happiness.

"she left?"

Teddy Bear, with his hands behind his back, hid in Ningzi's shadow and slowly spoke, his tone as steady as an old scholar.

"I left, but Xiangzi told me not to go out."

"Idiot Ningzi, why do you listen to her so much? You have legs, whether you walk or not is still your decision."

"Damn it, you've convinced me."

Toyokawa Ningko had to admit that this brainless idiot did have some intelligence after all.

The lights were off in the small, shabby house, and my stinky dad was fast asleep in the bedroom.

Just like a dead person.

"Anyway, no one can stop me from going out now."

Ningzi found the spare key to the house, shoved it into her pocket, and prepared to run away.