Aspiring to be a girl in a band

It was really a bit difficult for Xiangzi to lift up someone who was so much taller than her.

So she could only act as Arakawa Kirika's crutch again, dragging her body slowly downstairs.

After placing Arakawa Kirika on the sofa, Xiangzi slowly walked to the piano and began to play.

This process lasted about twenty minutes.

Under the influence of the music, Arakawa Kirika finally fully awoke.

While playing the instrument, Xiangzi also kept an eye on Arakawa Kirika. After seeing that the other's eyes had returned to normal, he stopped playing the instrument.

Then, as if in a great hurry, she suddenly ran away.

Arakawa Kirika frowned as she regained her senses, though she really wanted to scold her.

Did I tell you to stop?

But she remained silent, curious about what Xiangzi was up to.

Soon Xiangzi came out with a cup of hot tea and respectfully presented it to Arakawa Kirika.

Arakawa Kirika raised an eyebrow; she remembered that she hadn't given such an order.

Why are you suddenly being so attentive?

Arakawa Kirika didn't drink the tea immediately, but instead turned to look at Shoko.

She actually has a bit of a cat tongue, meaning she's afraid of getting burned.

As for the act of "cooling down" the tea, whether she did it herself or ordered Xiangzi to do it, Arakawa Kirika would feel that it would damage her dignity, so she could only put the tea aside for the time being.

"Tomorrow is Monday... I have to go to school."

Xiangzi's tone became somewhat hesitant.

"and then."

Arakawa Kirika looked at Shoko's somewhat awkward manner and felt a little strange.

Oh... is that what you mean...?

Arakawa Kirika suddenly realized.

So she lay down on the sofa and asked in a rather teasing tone.

"How much do you want? Cash, bank card, or check are all fine."

Arakawa Kirika clearly interpreted Shoko's unusual behavior as a sign that he was demanding unpaid wages.

Xiangzi was slightly taken aback. She realized that Arakawa Kirika had misunderstood, so she simply shook her head and then... squatted down.

She did this to lower her body below Arakawa Kirika's line of sight.

She knew that Arakawa Kirika liked the feeling of looking down at people, and since the other party was currently lying on the sofa, if she wanted to satisfy her preference for looking down, she could only maintain this half-squatting position.

Without a doubt, she is now showing weakness, or even fawning over Arakawa Kirika.

All of this was done to increase the chances of her next request succeeding.

“I…don’t want your money. So…I hope to be free during school days.”

“On my days off, I’m willing to serve you wholeheartedly… so…”

Before Xiangzi could finish speaking, Arakawa Kirika grabbed him by the collar and lifted him up.

Arakawa Kirika's eyes were filled with a murderous rage.

"You mean you're planning to strike from Monday to Friday from now on, right?"

Faced with those cold, serpentine eyes, Xiangzi's body trembled instinctively.

But... even so, Xiangzi could only grit his teeth and utter a plea.

"I beg you."

But this plea only added fuel to the fire.

Arakawa Kirika shoved Xiangzi away and coldly watched him stagger and fall to the ground.

"I've already given you plenty of kindness and patience, so don't push your luck any further."

But... Xiangzi, who was lying on the ground, did not care about the pain in her body. She just slowly got up from the ground, returned to Arakawa Kirika's side, and gently tugged at the hem of Arakawa Kirika's clothes.

"I beg you."

Xiangzi's eyes were brimming with tears.

For Xiangzi, this was the first time in her life that she had ever asked someone in such a humble, even degrading way.

Volume One: Chapter Twenty-One: Awakening

"Let go."

Arakawa Kirika said coldly.

Xiangzi hesitated for a second, then loosened his grip on Arakawa Kirika's clothes.

"Remember your place. I don't want to hear that again...?"

Arakawa Kirika's words gradually faded into silence and then ceased.

This was because Xiangzi, who was in front of her, made an unexpected move.

Xiangzi slowly squatted down, and then... slowly turned into a kneeling position.

The whole process, though slow, was carried out without the slightest hesitation.

Kneeling, Xiangzi looked up into Arakawa Kirika's eyes.

He said those three words again.

"I beg you……"

Arakawa Kirika's heart was filled with rage.

But while I was angry, I was also very confused.

In her heart, Toyokawa Shoko was a person who valued dignity above all else, but now... she had knelt down in front of her on her own initiative.

free……

free.

Arakawa Kirika repeatedly chewed over these two words.

Is it really that important to her?

A feeling of unease once again filled Arakawa Kirika's heart.

She took a few steps back and then sat back down on the sofa.

Xiangzi, however, showed no intention of getting up.

"Do you really enjoy making me angry?"

Arakawa Kirika's voice clearly reached Xiangzi's ears, but Xiangzi did not react.

"reason."

A long time passed, until Xiangzi felt his knees begin to ache, before he finally heard those two words.

"Because... if I have to come here even during school hours, I won't have time... to work."

……

Xiangzi's words seemed utterly ridiculous to Arakawa Kirika.

What is she saying?

Arakawa Kirika couldn't understand it.

They had all become her maids, her possessions.

It's unbelievable that he could still say the word "working".

Doesn't she know that as long as she pleases herself, she can get anything she wants?

Her most important job from now on should be to flatter me, not to work.

Arakawa Kirika found it hard to believe.

But then she remembered what Xiangzi had said.

I don't want your money.

After a brief moment of shock, Arakawa Kirika finally understood something.

This was a strategy that Xiangzi had planned from the very beginning.

I'll try to please her two days a week in exchange for her not interfering in my life anymore.

In other words... from the very beginning, Xiangzi never completely gave in.

She was still thinking about using her own strength and efforts to rebuild the family's glory.

Are you an idiot?

Arakawa Kirika really wanted to grab her by the collar and question her.

But... she didn't do it.

Arakawa Kirika finally began to understand some of the true nature of Toyokawa Shoko.

In this world, there is a kind of brave person who is more eager to try when her opponent is like a wolf, a tiger, or an insurmountable mountain; but if her opponent is like an insect or an ant, someone she can easily defeat, she will feel bored.

Toyokawa Shoko was a true hero.

So no matter how much pressure I put on her, I will never be an invincible force in her heart.

She doesn't want to get back everything she's lost by trying to please herself.

Xiangzi was still thinking about fighting.

There was a shortcut right in front of her that all she had to do was obey, but she insisted on taking the long way.

...No wonder it's something I like.

It's absolutely gorgeous...