Who says meal replacements can’t be eaten as meals?

Ms. Sakuya lowered her head and counted on her fingers. After thinking for a long time, she realized that the only words she could understand were cookies and cakes. She didn't recognize any of the other proper nouns.

"Well...I see. I've heard that the scones in Tsuki no Mori are very good." Although she had no idea what a scone was, Ms. Sakuya tried not to show her shyness and spoke calmly.

"Hmm~" Xiangzi's smile became more and more obvious, but he didn't expose it. After all, it was in line with Sakuya's style to pretend to be calm, and it was cute. "The time for the appointment with Mu is almost here. Let's go over there as soon as you finish the homework here. I haven't seen Mu for a while. The last time was at Yuze Cafe. It's really nostalgic."

"I'm done..." Ms. Sakuya glanced at the exercise book that she didn't feel like writing in, and decisively folded it in half, leaving it to her future self to finish. "I'll do it in the evening. Xiangzi and Xiaomu have known each other since childhood, right?"

"It's been more than ten years." Xiangzi was a little touched and put his hand on his chest. "Mu is not very good at expressing his feelings, but he is really kind to me. It's even beyond the relationship of friends."

"We can't be lovers if not friends. I'm still here." Ms. Sakuya made a small complaint. She didn't continue poking with her toes to express her dissatisfaction only because she felt guilty as well.

"I think it's probably not." Xiangzi replied, and continued. "The Toyokawa family is considered a wealthy clan in the Tokyo circle. Most of the so-called friends are formed because of the family. In order to cater to the expectations of the elders and have something to talk about, the acting skills they show to each other are considered from many aspects, even a simple afternoon tea, from the dress style, etiquette attitude, meal specifications, and the other party's preferences."

"Afternoon tea, is it such a complicated thing?" Miss Sakuya asked blankly. She had long noticed that Xiangzi was a lady from the capitalist class, but she behaved very approachable most of the time, which really made her feel no sense of distance.

"It's not just afternoon tea, there are also dinners, ribbon-cuttings, and musical performances. There are so many of them. Even Xiao Mu is often taken by Ms. Sammi to attend various variety shows."

Picking up the tea tray and drinking the remaining tea, Toyokawa Shoko continued to explain her relationship with Wakaba Mutsu.

"So, it is a blessing to have a close friend of the same age who is easy to talk to and has similar hobbies. Mu usually doesn't talk much and expresses his feelings in a very reserved way, so the two of us can be considered as childhood friends who grew up together relying on each other. The time we have shared overlaps with each other, so it's not an exaggeration to say that we are half of each other."

"It's reserved, but it's quite reserved." Miss Sakuya's eyes drifted away, and she touched the cheek that was kissed by Xiaomu with a disapproving look. As expected, this kind of thing should not be told to Xiangzi... After all, she was asleep at the time.

"Sakuya, I'm surprised that you and Mu-chan can have afternoon tea together." Ms. Xiangzi was also thinking about the conversation that happened at school yesterday. It's about time to have a frank talk with her girlfriend, otherwise it would be too embarrassing if she picked up the wrong baby next time...

"Because Xiaomu likes his sister very much." Sakuya stared at the warm-toned chandelier above her head and said a little guiltily.

"Then, when they were in the Tsuki no Mori, Sakuya must have been very happy to get along with them." Shoko asked softly, groping for the handle of the teacup.

"What...what is Moon Forest?" Sakuya pretended to be dumb and asked righteously with a stutter.

"Your elder sister told me everything." Toyokawa Shoko seemed a little helpless. She spread her legs and took the initiative to clamp the silly village girl's calves, which did not have time to withdraw.

"what??"

"It's still a while before we can meet in peace..." Toyokawa Shoko tidied up her hair and spoke softly, just enough for Sakuya to hear. "...Please explain it to me."

Chapter 237 Sandwich

Even a big city like Tokyo, which is always busy, has its lazy moments. The busy trains brake lightly, and the signs under the shade of the trees are full of luxury. Couples walk hand in hand, and fluffy pink teddy bears hand out balloons to children. The sun shines on the eaves, and the fashionable clothes and exquisite jewelry behind the transparent flower windows are shining brightly under the warm lights.

Ichinose Sakuya stretched out her hand to block the afternoon sun. The sky was azure blue with only small clouds floating in it, as if she had picked a few cotton balls, crushed them randomly and then thrown them away. The iced soda cut the clear sky into several pieces, and the clinging water droplets flashed with light spots along with the glass bottle, and even the lip gloss that the girl had just applied was tinged with the flavor of the sky.

"What are you looking at so fascinatedly? You've been in a daze for a long time." Toyokawa Shoko put down the phone she was using to send a message and joked. The country girl next to her had been holding the bottle in her hand and staring blankly since she left the station. If you didn't know her, you would think it was some kind of performance art.

"I just thought the weather was nice, and the color is similar to Xiangzi's." Taking her eyes off the soda bottle that had been refracted many times, Ms. Sakuya still adjusted her white frilly suspenders and complained. "We're going to meet Xiao Mu soon, and you're still acting like this. If I hadn't brought lip gloss, I would have been exposed."

"It won't be a problem if I tell Xiaomu, right?" Toyokawa Shoko nonchalantly walked behind the girl and helped her adjust her off-shoulder pearl white top, which matched her hair color very well. It was obvious that she dressed up carefully before going out to meet someone.

The blue-haired lady was still wearing the familiar off-white button-down shirt, with thin and even blue stripes outlining a harp pattern, a black bow-tie belt around her chest, a gray skirt, and standard leather shoes. Her complexion was much rosier and healthier than when I first met her. By the way, Miss Xiangzi's lips were also covered with the same lipstick color.

"I hope...I think that's the case. I think Mu-chan actually likes me a little bit..." Sakuya looked at the little hand on her shoulder shyly, wondering whether she should give Xiangzi a set of summer clothes, and the half-finished headband should also be slightly modified.

"Maybe it's her looks and personality? Mu's family determines that she longs for the love and care of others, and Sakuya is a person who likes to care for others. It's normal for Mu to like you." Toyokawa Shoko pondered for a while, but she was not too surprised. Sakuya's personality and face were within the preference range of her half, and it would be strange if she didn't like her.

"Shoko, are you...so calm?" Sakuya stroked the curly hair on the side of her shoulder and asked with a vague look.

"I was once the heir of the Toyokawa family, so I still have some calmness." Xiangzi chuckled and continued. "Besides, isn't it a good thing that Mu likes you?"

Anyway, Mu would never develop romantic feelings for girls.

Toyokawa Shoko is fully confident about this. Whether it is the conversation in junior high school or the regular psychological tests of the Wakaba family, she will not allow Wakaba Mu to like the same sex. She still has a considerable understanding of her half who grew up with her.

"So... after we meet up with Mutsuki, shall we go shopping first? This is my first time in Omotesando." Ms. Sakuya looked at the boutiques on the street and quickly ended this somewhat strange topic. She felt that the little blue hedgehog beside her definitely didn't understand her meaning correctly...

"I thought you, Sakuya, had no interest in shopping." Xiangzi was a little surprised. In his impression, although the little country girl liked to collect hair accessories and cute things, she definitely did not have the stamina to stand in the hot sun on the pedestrian street for an entire afternoon.

"I want to buy clothes for Xiangzi." Sakuya said bluntly, gently peeling away the soft little hand that was stuck on her shoulder.

"I may not be able to give you an equal return." Miss Xiangzi held the girl's hand with her backhand, turned half a circle and looked straight into her beautiful gray-blue eyes.

"Then deduct it from your salary. Xiangzi, you have to work hard to repay me." Miss Sakuya glanced at him and turned into a black-hearted capitalist who exploited her employees.

"How can you be a president like this?" Toyokawa Shoko pinched the girl's hand helplessly. She also planned to return a similar style. The 'salary' that Sakuya paid her was still safely lying in the pocket of her wallet.

The conversation stopped abruptly, but the atmosphere remained harmonious. The two looked at each other quietly, and turned their heads away at the same time, only their hands held together a little more firmly.

Wakaba Mutsu was a little disappointed, with her head down, standing across the street looking at the two holding hands. It was not the first time she felt this way, but this time it was particularly strong. Xiang was her most important friend, and Sakuya was the person she liked. Obviously, both of them were important, but looking at the hands held together, Wakaba Mutsu still felt sad that she was the only one left out.

The red light turned green. Wakaba Mu carefully put away the stuffed duck that had fallen outside her bag before approaching the two people standing by the station. She tried to keep her face straight, showing a childish and serious expression, and with a somewhat clumsy hand she wrapped her arms around Miss Sakuya's free right hand, closing her eyes and looking at the other half of her body.

"Mu, what are you doing?" Toyokawa Shoko blinked blankly, looking at her childhood friend who was not good at speaking. He just didn't want to talk before, but now he was so nervous that he even closed his eyes.

Wakaba Mu timidly opened his eyes a little, pursed his lips slightly towards his body, and then put his head close to Miss Sakuya's arm again, determined not to let go no matter what. Xiangdu and Sakuya have been holding hands for so long, it is completely fair for her to be a little too much!

Miss Xiangzi took about five or six seconds to sort out her tangled thoughts, and recalled Sakuya's words "Xiao Mu might like me a little bit." Only then did she gradually realize why Mu was showing such an action as if he was fighting for a toy with her.

In the friendship of more than ten years, there were naturally times when both parties wanted the same thing. If there was a dispute, there would naturally be a quarrel. Ruo Yemu was not a talkative person. If they quarreled, he would just hold on to what he wanted with grievance and refused to let go. He would let Xiangzi complain a few times, but in the end he could only sigh and let it go.

But...but even if they are in a good relationship, they will never share a girlfriend, right! ?

"Mu! What are you doing?" Miss Xiangzi asked the same question again in a completely different tone.

Miss Sakuya, on the other hand, sadly discovered that she might become the sandwich again today.

Chapter 238 If Ye Mu wants half of the love

In fact, it did become a three-person trip.

The two short girls tacitly occupied half of Ichinose Sakuya's body. Most of them were anxiously dragged to their own side, and Toyokawa Shoko raised her head with a little displeasure and met her girlfriend's eyes, fully showing her legitimacy as a legitimate girlfriend, and made the little village girl lean towards her side without saying a word.

"Hmm..." Ruo Yemu was a little discouraged. He pulled hard again but failed to move. He could only reluctantly hang on Sakuya and lean on her to move forward.

"Mu, it's about time you let go. I've made the relationship between Sakuya and I very clear. It would be unladylike if you continue to pester me." Toyokawa Shoko felt a bit of a headache at the moment, and the tone of her voice was just like a poor mother explaining to her willful daughter why she couldn't buy snacks today.

"...No." Wakaba Mu shook his head while panting. He had made up his mind to stay with Sakuya. Sakuya already liked Xiang very much, so he had to let her share some of her love for him. "Sakuya said that she likes... to be with me."

Ichinose Sakuya paused when he heard that. He wanted to reach out and touch his soft lips to reflect on it, but then he thought about the emotional debts that seemed to be piling up. He might have really used his identity to say words to Xiaomu that could be easily misunderstood.

“Even I wouldn’t want to get so close to Mu-chan in such a hot day. My forehead is already sweating.” Ms. Sakuya twitched her arm and whispered helplessly.

Wakaba Mutsu took a deep breath and looked up at the girl who finally looked at him. He was a little dissatisfied, but he still stepped back a little bit and whispered, "Sakuya... She obviously likes to hug me..."

"Hey?"

"This is the first time I've heard of this, Sakuya. It seems like something interesting happened between you and Xiaomu?" Toyokawa Shoko held her girlfriend's hand tightly and said with a smile as usual.

"I...I probably haven't hugged Xiaomu that much, right? Although Xiaomu's cold hug is very comfortable, but...but except for special circumstances..." Cold sweat quietly appeared on Miss Sakuya's face, and her struggling and weak explanation was ruthlessly crushed by Wakaba Mu's next words.

"...When I sleep, Sakuya always hugs me."

"No...don't say it in a way that could easily be misunderstood!"

The afternoon sun was scorching and dazzling. Miss Sakuya's cheeks were getting hotter and hotter, and Toyokawa Shoko also squinted her eyes while smiling.

"So that's how it is. Was it Sakuya who took the initiative to hug Mu-chan when she was half asleep?" She said confidently, both out of her familiarity with her half body and her confidence in her lover. After all, Sakuya always hugged her unconsciously when she was asleep, and the hug between Mu-chan should be no more than that.

"......." Wakaba Mu turned his head away unwillingly, curling his lips in a subtle way. "...I slept with Sakuya."

"I've slept with him too." Miss Xiangzi was not willing to be outdone.

“...twice.” Miss Mu counted them all.

"You guys haven't slept with me!" Looking at the increasingly strange looks and stares from passers-by, the much thinner-skinned Miss Sakuya finally retorted loudly, unable to bear the burden, and fled into a nearby shopping mall at the speed of light with the two of them.

The air from the central air conditioner was very cool, and the mall was far from the peak of customer traffic in the afternoon. After she finished the remaining half bottle of soda and carefully handed the garbage to the cleaning lady, Sakuya returned to the conversation between the two young ladies and took the initiative to play the role of lubricant.

The two of them didn't quarrel anymore. Toyokawa Shoko was making sense, while Wakaba Mu selectively refuted and pretended not to hear the rest.

"Friendship between friends is indeed beautiful and rare, and it is worth being happy about it, but there are some things that friends cannot do." It was the more mature Toyokawa Shoko who took the initiative to stop her silly fight, and now she was holding her forehead with one hand, speaking in a tone of admonition like a kindergarten tutor.

"......" Ruoye Mu didn't know how to respond, so he just looked at Xiang and hid his head beside Sakuya again, leaving only a pair of lowered golden eyes.

"No matter what you do, the first thing to do is to consider the other person sincerely. If you only care about pleasure and keep asking for things from your friends, your friends will soon leave you one after another." Toyokawa Shoko explained, slowly moving to her childhood friend who had become much clingier, and reached out to take the other's hand that was wrapped around Sakuya.

"...I like Sakuya too." Wakaba Mutsuki let go of her hand a little aggrieved, interlaced her fingertips with Xiang's, gently separated and put them together again, and then continued to speak word by word. "But Xiang...is already Sakuya's lover, I have nothing left, Xiang...or Sakuya..."

"Mu..."

"That's not true!" Ichinose Sakuya shook her head desperately to deny it.

She had originally planned to keep her distance from Wakaba Mutsuki, and had even thought of a reason why she should attend the afternoon tea instead of her sister, but these were not so important in front of the girl's golden eyes that were about to cry. Ichinose Sakuya was still worried about Wakaba Mutsuki, and didn't want her friends to be sad because of her.

"I like Xiaomu, too."

"We can still water the cucumber vines together, take turns to eat lunch and then lazily lie on the bench in the sun. Or we can go to LiveHouse to listen to the band's performance, sing our favorite songs at karaoke, and taste desserts and snacks we have never tasted before..." She stretched out her hand to separate Ruoye Mu's other hand that was curled up unconfidently, and spread her five fingers to press against the other hand. "...I have a lot of things I want to do with Xiaomu, but just like Xiangzi said, there are limits to relationships after all, and I can't be with Xiaomu for the rest of my life."

"...Can Xiang be okay?" Wakaba Mu took the initiative to separate his palms from those of Sakuya, but quickly changed his mind and intertwined his fingers again. "Because Xiang is your [lover]?"

"Because Xiangzi and I like each other, and I can't betray this feeling." Sakuya looked seriously into the doll lady's delicate light golden eyes and said affirmatively in a tactful tone.

She still took this opportunity to reject Ruoye Mu.

"Mu, your life is ultimately your own, and no one can control you forever." Toyokawa Shoko sighed, but she still hardened her heart and decided to make it clear. "This kind of behavior of restraining others according to one's own will has nothing to do with being a friend or a lover. It is just consuming the goodwill and kindness of others, which is actually a kind of harm, and it is the behavior of a bad boy."

Ruoye Mu was silent for a long time, holding the two people in front of her tightly with her hands. It was obviously wrong, but she did not take Xiang's advice to heart.

"...I'm sorry." If Ye Mu just said this, she would be like a bad child.

Chapter 239 Know

Ruoye Mu has always felt that his life is quite boring.

She thought she might know the reason, which was probably due to her submissive and indecisive personality. She followed her parents' arrangements to practice performances, followed Xiang to join the band and then left, and served as Su Shi's carrier pigeon in the Moon Forest. Until now, she had only been dependent on others, repeating the daily routine over and over again according to the atmosphere and schedule. Because her parents, Xiang, and Su Shi all gave her love, which might be a tiny bit insignificant to ordinary people, but it was enough for Ruo Yemu to maintain her life peacefully.

If Sakuya had never been to the Moon Forest...

Wakaba Mutsuki couldn't quite remember why he first fell in love with Sakuya, but it was probably because of her similar face to Suze's, but her completely opposite personality.

Clumsy words, innocent thinking, cute face, and vague sense of contrast, if Ichinose Sakuya was just a collection of these characteristics, she probably wouldn't like him. If Sakuya didn't pour out her care and love for her, Wakaba Mu would be willing to stop at the position of friends, which would be closer than her relationship with Su Shi, but a little worse than Xiang's.

Wakaba Mu didn't want to compete with Xiang from the bottom of her heart, but she didn't want Xiang to monopolize all of Sakuya's love. She didn't expect to completely possess all of Sakuya's attention and admiration, but at least, she wanted to be equal to Xiang...even if it was half of Xiang's.

"......I'm sorry." Wakaba Mu lowered his head and murmured, hiding the longing and nostalgia in his eyes very well. Even Toyokawa Shoko, who was also half of her, did not notice it.

"I'm sorry, Mu, my words may have been a little harsh. Actually, I should be the one to say sorry." Toyokawa Shoko gently held Mu's outstretched hand. Her gaze shifted for a moment and then returned to normal. It was rare that Mu wanted to take the initiative to do something, but she, the half who usually supported her, was the first to stand up and oppose.

"Although Xiangzi is small, he can speak with great force sometimes." Miss Sakuya, who was more guilty than Wakaba Mu, said briskly, which eased the atmosphere a little. She was actually the most helpless one among the three. Even though she understood that Xiangzi's words just now were just to teach Xiao Mu, and she was vaguely aware that she seemed to have too many good friends, Miss Sakuya had to struggle to stop the impulse of sitting upright and apologizing to Xiangzi.

"Being short is unnecessary." Xiangzi glared at the country girl who was not that tall, and spoke out the complaint on behalf of Wakaba Mu.

"...Then go ahead." Mu suddenly looked up, blinked twice, changed to a more comfortable position for the other party, and stuck close to Sakuya, and spoke calmly in his signature tone.

"What?" Xiangzi was slightly stunned.

"I'm sorry." Mu immediately replied.

“Pfft——” Miss Sakuya couldn't hold back her laughter. Even though the atmosphere was very solemn at the moment, the corners of her mouth still outlined the arc of a smile before her brain could react.

Looking regretfully at her stupid girlfriend who was philandering without any sense of crisis, Miss Xiangzi sighed again, and while the three of them were holding hands, she apologized unconfidently.

"I'm sorry, Mu, I met the person you like first, and we fell in love with each other first." As a life partner, Toyokawa Shoko knew Wakaba Mu better than Sakuya. Even though they hadn't met for a long time, she could still tell how much Wakaba Mu liked Sakuya from his subtle facial expressions and childlike stubborn attitude. "So, it would be great if you could accept it."

"..." Wakaba Mutsu, who had already decided to be a bad boy, did not answer. She half opened her eyes and hid behind Sakuya again. She did not accept Xiang's suggestion.

"Xiao Mu also has to tell Xiangzi that it's okay. If he hides behind me, then the person he has to apologize to will be me." Miss Sakuya was a little distressed. Xiao Mu seemed to no longer be bothered by this matter, but his behavior remained the same.

"...It's okay." Wakaba Mu squeezed Sakuya's palm again before standing up again, and said a little awkwardly. Xiang sincerely apologized to him, but he...

"It's okay... I haven't said this to Mu in a long time." Toyokawa Shoko was both relieved and worried. She was relieved that her relationship with Mu did not change because she and Sakuya became lovers, but she was worried that Wakaba Mu's undisguised intimacy made her feel at a loss as to where to start.

"Mu."

"......Um?"

"Isn't it time to let go? I'd still be jealous even if Sakuya didn't object." Shoko's eyebrows, which had just relaxed, tightened again.

"......" Wakaba Mu looked down at the arm he was hugging, reluctantly let go and shook his head, then stuck back to Sakuya. "Sakuya, we're friends, but now... I can't."

"I really can't do anything about you." Miss Xiangzi made a classic sigh, as her appearance ratings have dropped a lot recently. She just walked to the other side and elegantly took the free arm of the country girl.

"Huh? Why? Are you talking about an encrypted call? Why did it become like this again?" Miss Sakuya, who had just taken out her cell phone to ask Mio for help, looked around blankly. When she lowered her head, she still saw the familiar blue-green hair, but the side had changed, and the essence of the sandwich had not changed at all.

"Mu said she agreed to Sakuya's friend's proposal, but she can't do it now." Xiangzi said with a pout.

“......Hmm.” Wakaba Mutsu looked up pitifully at Miss Sakuya who was sandwiched in the middle and snorted pitifully.

"Then Xiao Mu, be a good boy. Don't pull me aside like you did just now." Miss Sakuya quickly accepted the reality. The most fortunate thing was that their relationship did not break down. She had also almost adapted to the strange feeling of being surrounded. As long as Xiangzi had no objection, it would be fine.

“Yeah.” Mu nodded quickly, and became visibly happier. The top of his head became three points brighter, as if a small light yellow flower had bloomed on his head.

"Mu, if you still want to be friends with Sakuya, I won't stop you, but you must pay attention to the boundaries. You can do anything within this range, but you must not cross the line." Toyokawa Shoko is not very possessive, and she also pays attention to personal privacy and the personal relationship between the two parties. Usually, she doesn't care which friends Sakuya is with. But for this kind of thing that crosses the line in front of her, she is only willing to share a little with Wakaba Mu.