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

"Mocha coffee with milk, fresh orange juice, and panda milk jelly. Go to the vending machine downstairs and buy them yourself."

The food plate fell in the corner of the bar. Miss Sakuya was a little touched by Shiina Riki's impolite service style. She should learn from Riki to reject Hai Ling as decisively as he did.

"How can there be a waiter who orders guests around?" Miss Hailing complained a little, handed the coffee to the girl next to her and said while sipping the hot orange juice.

"Drink it if you want." Ms. Lixi rolled her eyes and ignored the weird customer who was making things difficult for the waiter. She stared at Ms. Sakuya who was sipping the coffee cup with both hands for a while before she hummed and turned around to process other customers' orders.

"What are you looking at? You've drunk so much that you've got cat whiskers." Hachiman Kailing also turned aside and looked at the country girl with coffee foam at the corners of her mouth.

"I'm learning how to reject you like Riki did." Sakuya glanced at him and moved a little to the side in annoyance.

"Just say it directly." Hai Ling said bluntly, sipping orange juice without any hesitation. "If you don't want to, just refuse it righteously. I will never force you."

"But that will hurt others." Sakuya suddenly lowered her head and blew bubbles into her coffee listlessly. "There are many things that we have to pretend we didn't notice. Not everyone can express their feelings as directly as Hailing and not get hurt."

"You're wrong, Sakuya." Hailing sat up straight and spoke in a serious tone. "Although it may not be appropriate for me to say this, hidden dangers will only accumulate. Only by learning to say no can the least number of people be hurt."

"But I can't do it, like...what I said to Hai Ling." Miss Sakuya lay timidly on the table, reflecting on herself with her cheek facing the green ivy in the corner.

"Because you know it's wrong, you will still be attracted to me?" Miss Hailing said calmly, fiddling with her flaxen ponytail.

Sakuya turned his head and rolled his eyes like Riki did, then rolled his eyes again, not looking at Hailing.

"Well, I have two suggestions. Sakuya, just choose the one you like." Hailing pondered for a moment and said calmly.

"Hmm?" Sakuya opened her eyes and looked at the experienced Miss Kailing with one eye.

"The first one is the simplest. If you like them, just agree to everything. Use your own efforts and sincerity to satisfy everyone, or even give them a richer sense of happiness than ordinary lovers." Miss Hailing said something very scumbag-like with a cool poker face, and unsurprisingly, she got a look of disgust from Sakuya.

"But this method doesn't seem to be very suitable for Sakuya." She smiled and continued without caring. "As for the second method, it is to work hard to improve your threshold. The more you practice, the greater your resistance to shyness will be."

"That seems to make sense." Sakuya rested his chin on the bar and raised his head slightly. Senior Meow Meng did say that he should interact with girls more often in order to take the dominant position in the relationship.

"So, you want to practice with your friends who will never cross the line?" Hachiman Kailing revealed her true colors and also put her head on the bar and looked at Sakuya, and volunteered.

"No." Miss Sakuya blushed and replied. "I'm not stupid. Hailing will definitely trick me."

"Oh, what a pity. I obviously mean well." Glancing at the glass door that opened automatically, Miss Hai Ling sat up straight again and gracefully distanced herself from him.

"What's wrong?" Miss Sakuya was a little confused, and soon someone else scratched her head for her.

"What are you talking about?" Toyokawa Shoko asked gently, her slender hand resting on her idiot's head, but her eyes were looking at the black-haired girl sitting next to her with a little vigilance.

Miss Hailing stopped talking, but just looked innocently at the flaxen-haired girl whose face was becoming increasingly rosy. Xiangzi also lowered his head, watching and waiting for a reply.

"Talking about...practice with Shoko." Ichinose Sakuya suddenly felt her face burning. She thought it must be because the sun set too late.

Chapter 222 Calm

Ichinose Sakuya was sitting upright at the bar, staring at her coffee cup. She rarely struck up a conversation with the bad-tempered waitress, nor did she become vulgar again, browsing SNS or Youtube like an ordinary high school girl.

For some reason, the two people sitting next to me seemed to be chatting very congenially. Their eyes, both calm and polite, met each other. The content of the conversation ranged from John Paul, the keyboard player of Double Elite, to the disbanding of The Doors due to friction and disagreements in personal relationships, from the necessary conditions for support musicians to the coordination of keyboards and bass, to what kind of hair accessories would look good with flaxen hair. In the meantime, they kept praising the silly country girl who couldn't keep up with the conversation between the two people at all.

Miss Sakuya, who was totally unable to comprehend the two's knowledge, could only try to keep a straight face and nod her head from time to time as if she understood. In fact, the little leather shoes under the bar had already been pressed against the wall in an attempt to dig a hole and escape.

"Ms. Hachiman is well-informed and speaks very confidently. If we were to meet in another setting, I would really like to have more conversation with you." After a few simple words, Toyokawa Shoko roughly understood the other party's identity and praised with an elegant smile full of business style, but her upper body leaned forward slightly, and she leaned close to the girl to declare her sovereignty.

"Same here. Toyokawa-san is the one who surprised me, and I believe we will have a chance to meet again." Hachiman Kailing said calmly with her chin supported and chuckled, maintaining the proper distance between friends with Sakuya.

"That's true. Sakuya is lucky to have a reliable friend like you as a guide on her musical journey. I'll have to thank her on her behalf next time we meet." With her delicate eyebrows slightly furrowed, Toyokawa Shoko couldn't quite see through the black-haired bassist in front of her. Her expression of sovereignty should be very clear, and the other party did understand her meaning...

Still, so, is this a declaration of war?

"Then I'll be looking forward to it." Hai Ling gently pushed the empty juice cup in front of her so that the waitress who was eavesdropping could take it back. She stood up first, passed by the two people, and suddenly thought of something and turned back to comment. "By the way, I still think black hair accessories are very suitable for girls with flaxen hair."

"Really?" Xiangzi paused, his golden eyes wide open, staring into the light green eyes without giving in, and replied in an unquestionable tone. "But the flax-haired girl next to me undoubtedly prefers light blue."

"That's a pity." Hachiman Hailing smiled and blinked, not denying it. But she knew that someone was very greedy and liked more than one hair accessory.

"Nice to meet you, Fengchuan." Nodding slightly, Miss Hailing still chose to stay out of the spotlight for the time being.

"I also feel that we met too late." Miss Xiangzi also nodded and said politely with her hands on her belly.

The automatic door opened and closed again. Hachiman Kailing walked away in a very cool manner. Miss Sakuya was thinking about life while drinking half a cup of mocha coffee. She felt guilty and didn't dare to look at the little blue-haired hedgehog beside her. She instinctively felt that Xiangzi seemed to have some opinions about the hair tie she chose today.

“Someone is really popular.”

Miss Xiangzi, who had skipped work due to a phone call, put her little hand around the handle of the coffee cup and accepted the half-drunk cup of café au lait very unceremoniously as compensation, although she had the impression that she had not drunk this kind of milk drink that children liked more since she entered junior high school.

"That means I'm cute..." Sakuya turned her head and whispered cutely, spreading her palms and allowing Shoko to rub them with her other free hand.

"Sakuya seems to have no self-awareness when it comes to dealing with girls...but he's still good enough when it comes to calling me." Shoko squeezed his hand, which felt nice, in dissatisfaction, picked up the coffee and drank it all in one gulp. He took the girl's hand and stood up, only to see the waiter with long black hair who was staring at and wiping the same glass the whole time.

Toyokawa Shoko was silent for two or three seconds, then let go of her hand, pretended nothing had happened, turned around openly, and walked out of the cafe with a very elegant but quick pace. She didn't turn around until the automatic door opened again, then she turned back and glared at the silly country girl who hadn't reacted yet.

Ichinose Sakuya must have left, along with Toyokawa Shoko. Shiina Riki thought so, while unconsciously wiping the glass that was already clean enough to hold a light, until the familiar figure came back and a box of black and white panda milk jelly appeared in front of him. He looked up suddenly, confusedly meeting the emerald green eyes that seemed to never change.

"Panda Milk Jelly, I remember you wanted the chocolate flavor." Miss Hailing, who had to run errands herself because the waiter was unwilling to do so, returned to the seat she had just left not long ago, still in the same posture with one hand on her chin.

"What do you mean?" Miss Lixi put down the almost polished glass and asked in confusion.

"You become very quiet when you are depressed." Hachiman Kailing looked directly into the light purple eyes and spoke in a declarative tone.

"Huh? You have nothing to do?" Li Xi slammed the table, angrily.

"Indeed, so can I stay here?" Hai Ling nodded without changing her expression and asked calmly.

"Whatever you want..." Li Xi shook his head angrily, picked up another glass that was still stained with water droplets and wiped it bit by bit. He turned it around the rim of the glass and glanced at the milk jelly, muttering softly. "...Anyway, you came to me because Sakuya left you behind."

"If that's the case, wouldn't it be better if I just take Sakuya away from RiNG?" Hai Ling said in a calm tone as she looked at the drummer who was working quietly.

"Hey, Hailing, do you like Sakuya?" Shiina Riki asked casually in the most nonchalant tone he could muster.

"I like it." Hai Ling answered casually, poking at her own portion of milk jelly.

"The kind for friends?"

"Maybe."

"Tsk, what kind of answer is that?"

After wiping all the glass cups, Shiina Riki, who was still feeling complicated like the ball of wool that Lenai had played with, stared at Yawata Kairin who was staring at him with a little annoyance, and asked questions without knowing the reason.

"Why do you keep staring at me?"

"Because it looks good." Hai Ling always speaks the truth.

"Huh? You're not the kind of scumbag who falls in love with every girl you see, are you?" Li Xi gave her a suspicious look.

"Probably not." Hai Ling pondered for a while before slowly speaking. "At the moment, it seems that I just like two people at the same time."

"Scumbag." Ms. Lixi's eyes became sharper and she said affirmatively.

"Maybe." Hai Ling shrugged and admitted it frankly. After Li Xi opened the milk jelly package, she spoke slowly. "I have something to ask of you."

"I refuse." Li Xi replied immediately.

"It's about Sakuya. You guys are mates in a band, right?" Hailing said slowly while sipping on the milk jelly.

"...Tell me about it."

Chapter 223: The Horror of Initiative

There are no cameras in RiNG's composing room.

Unlike recording studios that are in high demand and have many transient clients, the composing studio that seeks quietness and relaxation does not have overly expensive musical instruments. The only recent tenant is Ichinose Sakuya, who has enough money to rent the room until the end of the month.

In this not-so-large but comfortable space, there are several light-colored ornaments arranged in order, including a wooden computer desk for composing, a dark green sofa that can accommodate two people when the mezzanine is unfolded, and a Yamaha monitor speaker that Ms. Sakuya uses as a bass stand.

Ms. Sakuya, who had already happily finished playing the bass today, naturally had no energy or interest to continue playing. While Shoko was still around, she used her extremely skilled desktop cleaning function to create a small space big enough for her exercise books and notes, and finished the few remaining extracurricular exercises with peace of mind and joy. From time to time, she reached out and poked Shoko's side, making full use of the maid who paid 5000 yen per session to teach her the questions.

However, Toyokawa Shoko remained reserved for a while, closing her eyes and thinking about the right tune.

At least it was when the naughty country girl provoked him for the third time that he could no longer hold back, put his arms around her waist, and used his increasingly skilled kissing skills to pry open her tongue and kill her on the spot.

Just think of it as charging someone a small amount of interest for their philandering.

"You didn't hide behind me today, nor did you use the back of your hand to block me."

The dome-shaped swivel chairs were pressed together. Toyokawa Shoko stood up, wiped the corner of her mouth, and spoke with a smile as if she was commenting on a meal.

"Pervert." Sakuya's face turned red as she quietly condemned him, her eyes avoiding the viewer and she licked the corner of her mouth with her tongue without realizing it, causing Miss Xiangzi, who was concentrating on composing music, to feel that she might desecrate the sacred music today.

"By the way, what did Sakuya mean by wanting to practice with me today?" Thinking silently about how to use Logic and the unfinished song that she had memorized by heart, Toyokawa Shoko resisted the urge to indulge herself in another round with great willpower, and asked casually while adjusting the track. "If you want to play with me, I can also ask the staff at the front desk. RiNG should provide instrument rental services..."

"Although I do want to do this, I still can't tell Xiangzi." Miss Sakuya, who was much more thin-skinned than Xiangzi, secretly glanced at the girl's earlobe and lowered her head to write the formula again, using the vast knowledge to suppress the strange thoughts that kept overflowing from her heart.

"It looks like this is Sakuya's own little secret." Shoko was slightly curious, and lightly pressed the space bar, modifying the music score bit by bit according to the impression in his mind.

"Because it's an important matter, I need to prepare before I tell Xiangzi." Ms. Sakuya responded with a serious expression, as if she were treating a precision experiment. She was thinking about Xiangzi's weakness, preparing to gather some courage and attack him by surprise, fiercely launching a sneak attack on the blue-haired hedgehog's ears, fully demonstrating her strong side as the leader.

"Let's talk about it later." Toyokawa Shoko just thought it was interesting, so she accepted Sakuya's challenge generously, then put on headphones and concentrated on her work.

The music track took shape quickly because she had rehearsed it in her mind countless times. Toyokawa Shoko had already memorized the necessary virtual instruments and sound libraries, synthesizers, samplers, keyboards, bass... one by one fell swoop on the track. Only the mixing and post-production fine-tuning were needed, and this song, which finally played its ending on last rainy day, could be considered a preliminary success.

He took off his headphones and pressed the final ctrl+s. The country girl who had been standing behind him from the beginning also reached out and patted his right shoulder at the right time.

Miss Xiangzi, who was not on guard at all, guessed that someone was going to poke her cheek with a finger, so she turned around with a smile. When she turned her head to the right, she saw nothing, but instead felt a little wetness on the left earlobe.

"I want to practice a little with Xiangzi..." Using the tactic of making a feint to the east and attacking in the west that she had just learned in the morning, Ms. Sakuya, with blushing cheeks, kissed the fair earlobe that had just been freed from the headphones, and finished the opening lines she had prepared for a long time, suppressing her shyness.

As expected, Toyokawa Shoko stiffened, looking at the round and soft earlobes gradually turning the same light pink as the sunset. She completely ignored the fact that her own earlobes were even hotter and felt that it was terrible that she was taking the initiative.

"Sakuya, who said I was a pervert, is the real pervert, right?" The pale golden eyes turned halfway around, and Toyokawa Shoko, with curved eyebrows and eyes, met the eyes of the cowardly country girl without showing any weakness. Even though her ears were extremely sensitive after just leaving the noise-isolating headphones, and the unexpected attack caught her off guard, Toyokawa Shoko still forced herself to look directly into those gray-blue watery eyes.

Because she knew that someone would definitely give in first because they couldn't stand it anymore.

"I... I just want to practice." After taking the initiative for about fifteen seconds, Miss Eighty Percent Attack quickly stood up and stared at the ceiling and started talking nonsense. "And I haven't said what I want to practice with Xiangzi yet. Xiangzi is definitely more perverted because he thought of something weird."

"Then I wonder what exactly Miss Sakuya wants to practice with my little maid?" Miss Xiangzi, who should have pressed on to win, felt a little weak in the knees. She could only pretend to be calm, turned the chair half a circle, and used her honed etiquette skills to launch a verbal offensive.

"It's just... sometimes, shouldn't I take the initiative and kiss... kiss Xiangzi." Looking at the golden eyes that didn't waver at all, Miss Sakuya put her fingers together and nodded in the loudest voice she could.

From Toyokawa Shoko's perspective, what is in front of her is an elegant picture with perfect use of colors. The U-shaped window sill is embedded in the air like a picture frame, just enough to enclose the lovely flaxen ponytail. The overall appearance of the character perfectly blends into the rose-red sky outside the window. The bright red at the end of the earlobe is the same color as the half-blocked sunset. Even with the backlight, you can still see the clarity in the girl's eyes.

The scenery was beautiful, and the person was even prettier. The maid laughed foolishly at an inappropriate moment, and was stared at resentfully by the young lady for a long time before she raised her head and blinked twice as an invitation.

"Xiangzi, don't hide." After getting permission, Miss Sakuya walked forward quickly with great interest, put her hands on both sides of the table, and spoke condescendingly in a way that she thought was full of aggression.

"Is this an order?" Xiangzi asked playfully.

"That's right." Miss Sakuya nodded quickly, suddenly remembering that there was such a setting.

"But Sakuya owed me an order once before." The maid said with a chuckle.

"Then... owe it again?" The young lady, who might be from the country, asked foolishly.

"Hmm." Xiangzi acquiesced and then closed his eyes lightly.

Chapter 224: Love Singing

Ichinose Sakuya still couldn't take the initiative for long.

After the initial period of mental excitement after the successful turnaround, shyness began to hit my nerves like a tsunami.

The white neck is clearly visible, and the flawless and pretty face reveals a lovely expression that is ready to be picked. The eyes that used to be strong are gently closed, revealing only slightly trembling light eyelashes. No matter how you look at it, it is a well-behaved and cute little rabbit. It really took me a lot of effort to appreciate this soft appearance hidden under the spikes.

Thinking of this, Miss Sakuya, whose heart was as hot as iron, no longer worried about what would happen if she was laughed at by Shoko. Feeling a little apologetic, she mustered up the courage to close her eyes and kissed him. The light touch of their lips was like the spring breeze on her face or the mist from the Kamogawa River. Miss Sakuya was in a comfortable mood and couldn't appreciate it more because she leaned back in fright because of the other party's pursed lips. She met the maid's eyes with satisfaction when she opened her eyes again.

"It fits Sakuya's style very well." Toyokawa Shoko commented with a slightly regretful tone, her golden eyes overflowing with love and obvious sporadic desires, and she retreated at the speed of light after teasing her. How could you play with a girl like this?

Anyway, there is still plenty of time, and it will be in time if we delay a little longer.

"How do you feel, Xiangzi?" Having successfully taken the first relatively important step in her life, Miss Sakuya was feeling quite proud of herself. It wasn't that difficult to express her love directly.

"Very good, but isn't the practice time too short?" She spread her legs, curled her toes slightly, and pressed against the girl's calves wrapped in dark green stockings one by one. Toyokawa Shoko blinked continuously again. She gave Sakuya a chance.

"Ah...it's better to practice in moderation, okay?" Ichinose Sakuya felt something was wrong, but he cooperated and bent down again. However, he soon discovered the difference in difficulty - the maid's eyes were open this time.

"Come to think of it, Xiangzi had already finished composing the song, right?" Miss Sakuya retreated and was about to stand up, skillfully changing the subject.

"It's preliminarily completed. I'll teach Sakuya how to output it into music score later." Ms. Xiangzi reported the progress of her work in a professional tone as if she was replying to the client, but her small hands were not very honest as she unbuttoned the first button of the Yugaoka school uniform in front of her, which extended all the way down to the end of the tie.

"I know a little bit about Logic, so why don't we start now?" The sudden feeling of relief in his chest was a bit subtle. Ichinose Sakuya turned his head and stared at the pure color blocks floating on the green music track with burning eyes. He had never been so eager to learn as he was now.

"It doesn't matter. There is still a lot of time left, enough to teach Sakuya from scratch." Miss Xiangzi slowly took out the standard matcha-colored tie from the other person's chest, wrapped it half a circle with one hand, and exerted a little force to prevent him from leaving.

"No...it's not enough. I'm actually quite clumsy." The slight traction on her neck forced Ms. Sakuya to maintain an awkward posture that tested her body's flexibility. She tried hard to turn her head away, but her upper body sank little by little towards the maid sitting on the chair.

"That's why you need to practice hard." Xiangzi smiled and used a soothing tone to comfort the brown-haired dog who was about to faint. "Don't worry, I'll be with you."

"elder sister..."