Toyokawa Shoko doesn't want to become a witch

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"......"

Miao Meng suddenly fell silent, her face as dark as the sky outside the window.

"That's enough."

Meow Dream has had enough.

For the past few days, she and Xiangzi have been hiding in dark corners, living in fear while also helping Xiangzi monitor the movements of those people.

Miao Meng's motto has always been "every man for himself." Xiangzi wondered why she was willing to put in so much effort for this temporary little group.

Wasn't it because Xiangzi gave her hope that her life could change?

No, no, no, let's put all that talk about changing our lives and pursuing our dreams aside for now.

Now they were facing a witch so powerful that she could influence the real world with her barrier. If such a person were to descend directly upon the Reed Plains, the disaster that would be caused was beyond Miao Meng's imagination.

This is Reed Plain, the Reed Plain where she grew up. No matter how awful or unreasonable she is, she still has feelings for this city and doesn't want to see it just disappear like that...

More importantly, there is someone who holds some weight in her heart living in this city.

She didn't want to see that guy's home destroyed by Nirvana.

If Yutenji Wakana were just someone incapable who could only drift along with the tide, she might not care so much. Perhaps she would have thought that if the sky fell, there would be tall people to hold it up, just like she used to.

But Xiangzi showed her that someone like her could also save the world, so she decided to take control of the situation. If the sky were to fall, there would be tall people to hold it up; she was tall enough already.

so......

So Xiangzi's state, which was even worse than when she was at her most depressed, left her speechless with anger.

"That's enough."

Miao Meng repeated it again.

Like an elder, Miaomeng raised her hand and ruffled Xiangzi's messy hair, making it even messier.

Xiangzi lowered his head and remained silent, letting her ravage him.

“I don’t know what’s gotten into you these past few days that has made you so depressed. I’ve been through something similar before. When my investment failed and I lost all the money I had made through a wish, I was in a similar state. Every day I would wake up and just lie in bed and not want to do anything.”

Miao Meng bent down and looked down at Xiangzi, her eyes revealing emotions that Xiangzi had never seen in her before.

That's anticipation.

"But I advise you to think it over carefully."

Miaomeng let go of her hand and put one hand on her hip.

Are you willing to just accept your fate like this?

"Is the Toyokawa Shoko I know the kind of person who would willingly admit defeat?"

Miao Meng almost whispered in Xiangzi's ear; her voice was deeper and more magnetic than he had imagined, as if it had sunk directly into his soul.

"I don't intend to know what you think, but personally, I don't want you to be."

After saying this, Miaomeng walked around the sofa, headed to the entryway, and put on her shoes.

She turned back before leaving the house.

“I had high hopes for you before, and even admired you. That’s the core reason why I was willing to follow you.”

"Hai Zi may not come to you to say these things, but she must have been attracted to some quality in you."

"And then there's Hatsuko and Mutsuko. You've known them since you were little, right? Just because they're willing to tolerate you doesn't mean they're willing to watch you continue like this. Don't take their favor too seriously."

"Don't let us down again."

The Tale of Nirvana: Keeping to Your True Self: Chapter 132 Cascade Recording

After Miaomeng left, Xiangzi sat blankly on the sofa with his hair still in the mess Miaomeng had made.

She didn't move until the sun had completely set and the room was pitch black. She just sat there blankly on the sofa, not even sure if she was thinking.

I don’t know how long it took.

Click.

The sound of a door opening echoed from the entryway.

Chu Hua has been busy recording Sumimi's new song these past few days, so she's reportedly practically invisible at school and doesn't get home until very late at night.

"Sorry, Xiao Xiang, it's late again today..."

Chu Hua walked into the dark room and found that the lights were off.

"Still not awake today...?"

Chu Hua lowered her head in disappointment, kicked off her shoes, and turned on the living room light.

The sudden light was blinding, as if it would pierce Xiangzi's eyes. She instinctively covered her eyes and let out a soft sob.

"Woo..."

"Hey? Xiao Xiang, you're in the living room." Chu Hua only then noticed Xiangzi. "Are you feeling any better today?"

Xiangzi lay on the sofa, rubbing his eyes, which had been stung by the bright light and were now watering.

"It's alright," she said softly.

Chu Hua could tell from her messy hair that it wasn't good at all, and she also knew that there was no point in asking any more questions, so she changed the subject.

Have you had dinner?

Xiangzi shook his head with his back to Chuhua.

"really......"

Xiangzi is now like the lazy person in that fable, so lazy that she could starve to death even if she had a pancake around her neck. Maybe if you left her at home and prepared plenty of ingredients—not to mention ingredients, even ready-to-eat food that can be microwaved—she would still starve to death.

Chu Hua sighed and walked towards the kitchen.

"I'll go cook, I'll call you later."

Xiangzi nodded blankly.

......

Before long, the sizzling sound of hot oil touching cold food could be heard in the kitchen.

Xiangzi's dilated pupils gradually focused, focusing on something that had always been placed on the coffee table and ignored by everyone.

That was the Walkman she brought out from the barrier. Chu Hua didn't touch it, and Xiang Zi was even less likely to touch it. It had been sitting on the coffee table for so many days without being moved.

Xiangzi slowly picked up his Walkman.

"What exactly is this?" She frowned. "Why is it appearing inside the barrier?"

That was one of her bastard father's collecting obsessions. She herself didn't like Walkmans and cassette tapes at all, so if she was dreaming about them... well...

Yes, who says you have to dream about things you like?

You can have anything in your dreams.

It's only natural that some people's thoughts during the day manifest in strange dreams at night.

Like Mortis's Museum of Memories.

Curious, Xiangzi pressed the play button on his Walkman. A click came from the cassette player, and the play button immediately bounced back.

It looks like it's reached the bottom and there's nothing left.

Xiangzi casually opened the lid of the cassette tape and took it out.

On the side facing her, it says "Part A, The Man Who Sold The World".

A person who betrays the world.

Ha ha.

Xiangzi chuckled softly.

It really suits me perfectly.

"—You know, cassette tapes are two-sided."

Shoko Toyokawa, sitting to the side, offered a reminder.

Upon hearing this, Xiangzi flipped over the cassette tape.

Part B, To Me

"It really does."

She put the flipped-over cassette tape into the Walkman, closed the lid, and pressed play.

The tape started spinning, and a faint white noise drifted from the amplifier.

SOUND ONLY

sizzle-

—To my future self. By the time you hear these words, I will probably no longer be myself.

The voice coming from the tape was the same, but even more ethereal than Xiangzi's current one.

In the voice, so faint it seemed to be fading away, Xiangzi heard a faint sense of despair.

"The Soul Gem has reached its limit of corruption; I have not yet become a witch."

"I don't know why this is happening, but I don't think the current situation can last much longer."

"After the recording ends, I will try to kill myself."

"Whether I become a corpse, a witch, or even just lose my memory, the 'current me' will certainly no longer exist."

"The phone screen was cracked beyond recognition; it's a miracle it could even be turned on again. I wonder if this message will survive."

Xiangzi was stunned and doubted.

Who is this...?

The doubt lasted less than half a second before Xiangzi's eyes lit up with understanding.

Is it "me"?

This is a recording left behind by the previous "me," which is presented in the form of a cassette tape recording within the witch's barrier.

It turns out that something like this happened during that blank period in my memory.

Xiangzi placed his Walkman on the table, curled up into a ball, and listened to the cassette tape recording amidst the busy sounds from the kitchen.

"If you became a witch, you probably wouldn't listen to my complaints, but would blame all your despair on the world and repay it with despair."

"But... if you can hear this, it means you still have some rationality left, right?"

The spinning tape blurred in my eyes.

What a pity, my words weren't left for the person who should have heard them, but for... a witch's familiar.

Xiangzi thought dejectedly.

He shrunk even smaller.

"The me who wakes up, you will inherit everything from me and continue on my path."

Xiangzi pursed his lips, feeling a lump in his throat.

A day has passed, and the effects of the blue pill have mostly worn off.

Xiangzi felt her pent-up emotions surge up all at once, and an indescribable sense of grievance overwhelmed her like waves crashing against the rocks on the shore.

Yes, I inherited everything from you, bore everything, and still have to accept that I'm not the real deal.

That's so cruel.

Why should I bear all of this?

Why me of all people?

Why, why, why...

Who can tell me why?

"Xiao Xiang, I'd like to try some Chinese food today. Do you eat spicy food?"