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

Page 4

"..."

Toyokawa Shoko clenched her teeth tightly. She hated herself, hated that she couldn't even afford to pay for her sister's doctor's visit.

She even had dreams of playing in a band before... That's really dreamy. She can't even take care of her sick younger sister properly. She's definitely neglecting her duties as an older sister.

"it is good."

Even though she only uttered one word, Toyokawa Shoko exhausted all her strength.

Toyokawa Shoko's straight back bent slightly.

She previously gave up music because she succumbed to life's pressures, and now she's bowing down to her friends and abandoning her self-respect once again.

Seriously, you're pathetic and laughable, you loser.

"I'm leaving now. I'll pay the bill. I have to go to work later."

Shoko Toyokawa straightened her skirt, stood up to say goodbye, and left the cafe with steady steps without giving Mutsuka Wakaba a chance to speak.

If Ye Mu continued to drink her beverage with her head down, the cup would remain empty; she was simply inhaling air and spacing out.

“Xiao Ning…”

I am sorry…

Wakaba Mutsu is pulled back to the past...

Do you still hate me now?

I am sorry…

Chapter 5. Hospital, Ningzi and the Strange Girl

The glaring sunlight, the ear-piercing engine noise, the disgusting crowd.

"As expected, I don't like being outside."

As Toyokawa Ningko stared at the rapidly changing scenery outside the car window, her inner turmoil grew stronger.

She wanted to go home; she didn't want to see a therapist.

Those who think she's sick are the ones who are sick.

"Ning, are you feeling unwell?"

In the back seat of the luxury car, Ruoye Mu sat between Ningzi and Xiangzi. She noticed that Ningzi's expression had been strange ever since she left home.

It felt as if someone had smashed a 150-kilogram flowerpot on her head.

"Xiao Mu, I'm fine, thank you for your concern."

Toyokawa Ningko forced a smile.

Ruo Yemu, she remembered, was Xiangzi's pet... Xiangzi's childhood sweetheart, but not really hers.

should.

She seemed to have seen him often when she was a child, but perhaps because it had been so long and her memory was hazy, she really didn't remember him very well.

Strangely, it seems that Mutsu's memories are hidden; Ningzi can't recall them at all.

In short, they are just good friends.

"Are you carsick? Want some candy? I have some in my pocket."

Toyokawa Shoko handed over the dragon fruit-flavored mints from her pocket. She had grabbed them a few months ago while eating out, knowing that her younger sister often suffered from low blood sugar, so she carried them with her just in case.

"No need, I'm much better now."

Ningzi should have brought the teddy bear; without his company, she felt empty inside.

"Miss, we are here."

The female driver in the front seat smoothly slowed down and pulled the luxury car to the side of the road.

"Ah."

If Muku responded softly, Toyokawa Shoko opened the car door, and after Muku got out, she helped Ningko out.

"Sister, I want to go home."

"It'll be over soon. Don't you want to go to school with me?"

"I really want to..."

Toyokawa Ningko clung to Xiangzi like a sloth, answering her older sister's questions listlessly.

“As long as the hospital provides a certificate, Ning can go to school with me.”

Xiangzi patiently coaxed his younger sister, speaking softly and gently, as if caring for a baby.

Going to school together? Really?

He was with Xiangzi 24 hours a day, and every moment, his body was covered in Xiangzi's scent.

Sweetness, it makes my heart race, ah, my Xiangzi, we're together every day...

We'll never have to be apart again, hehe, I'm so happy, we can go to school together...

Twenty-four hours a day, every single one of those twenty-four hours, there's Xiangzi. Xiangzi will never be separated from her again, and he will never abandon Ning again…

"Ningzi, wait here for a moment. Mu and I will go and say hello to the attending physician first."

When Ningzi came to her senses, her sister had already led her to the chair by the door of the clinic.

"Ah? Oh, Xiang, hurry up and go."

Ningzi sat down in a daze, watching her sister He Mu walk into the clinic.

This place is called "Yamada Private Hospital," and it seems that Xiangzi and I were born here.

The light beige wall paint is reassuring, but the floor looks quite rough. If I hadn't been forced to wear shoes today, I would have definitely stomped on the floor a couple of times.

"Boring, boring, boring, boring, boring."

Taking advantage of the fact that no one was around, Ningzi kicked off her shoes and pulled off her white cotton socks, freeing her feet that had been bound for more than ten minutes.

"It feels so good, this is the feeling, I love it..."

"Oh, you like this feeling too?"

"Ok?"

A lively, girlish voice came from beside her, its soft tone sounding very familiar to Ningzi.

Toyokawa Ningko lowered her head and stroked her calves. When she heard the sound, she slowly raised her head and saw a pair of cute little bare feet.

Ningzi asked uncertainly, "Have we... met somewhere before?"

The girl was very cute, which was refreshing to Ningzi, but after letting the girl out of her sight for just a few seconds, Ningzi could no longer remember the girl's face.

"No, it's just that I happened to run into someone who hates shoes. We both hate shoes."

"should."

"The doctors here are incredibly skilled, you know?"

The girl skipped and hopped barefoot in front of Ningzi, pointing at the words on the sign at the door and laughing a few times:

"Dr. Oswald Chesterfield Coppert, a graduate of Miskatonic University and a PhD from Arkham State University, is a true master!"

"Yes, thank you for the explanation."

Go away, this is so annoying. Nobody cares about the doctor. I just want to wait for my sister to finish her checkup so we can go home together.

Ningzi's perfunctory response did not upset the girl, who sat down next to Ningzi with a smile.

"Do you know what the doctor inside will ask you in a little while?"

"Do you know?"

Do you want me to tell you?

"Anything is fine..."

Ning rubbed the floor vigorously, thoroughly enjoying the satisfaction brought to her by the cool touch of the ground.

Shoes are such a terrible and boring invention; the inventor should be shot.

So, is it okay to go to school without shoes?

"Hey, do you need to take a break?"

"Need not."

"Why don't you take a nap? I'll help you solve this problem."

"What…"

"Therapist, it's okay, I'll help you with all your problems."

Ningzi instinctively wanted to stay away from this girl who kept spouting strange things; her sister had told her to stay away from strangers when she was out.

But as she tried to leave, her head suddenly started throbbing with pain.

"You do..."

Toyokawa Ningko's vision went black, and she lost consciousness before she could finish speaking. When she opened her eyes again, her sister was leading her by the hand toward the car.

Mu was to Ningzi's right, holding a sheet of paper. Ningzi could see the words on it very clearly:

[Toyokawa Neko, female, sixteen years old...all normal...can enroll normally.]

"Ningzi, stop spacing out and hurry home."

"Oh, okay."

No, how did it suddenly end? I was just at the door...

"What just happened?"

"Ning is doing very well. The doctor said her condition has improved a lot, and all the tests show that Ning is almost fully recovered."

Xiangzi's answer was very detailed, covering all aspects, but Ning became more and more confused as she listened.

What test? I just took a nap, how could I have passed?

"Ning, keep going."

"Okay, Mu."

Forget it, this is too much trouble. If it passes, it passes. Passing means I have proof, so I can go to school, right?

Being able to go to school means being able to stay by Xiangzi's side; that's the rule, right?

Is it possible to stick to Xiangzi forever just by taking a nap? Is such a good thing only possible in a dream?

Wait, where's that girl?

"Xiangzi, have you seen the girl at the door?"

"No, is he Ningzi's new friend?"

"No... never mind, just a stranger who felt familiar to me."

"Maybe we met a long time ago. Is there anything you'd like to eat tonight?"

"Mango, braised mango."

Are you sure you'd eat it if I actually made it?

"will not."

Ning and Xiang's interaction was very heartwarming, and Mu deliberately walked a beat slower, quietly following behind them.

That's wonderful, Ning is so happy, that's great.

From now on, I must continue to be happy.

please.

Chapter 6. I've seen this younger sister before.

Leaving the hospital, saying goodbye to Xiao Mu, my sister went to work, and I chatted with my dolls by myself. Blah blah blah, and the weekend was over.

The weekend is over just like that…

Time flies. This weekend is no different from any other weekend. Ningzi is still holed up in her small bedroom, idly wasting her life.