Aspiring to be a girl in a band

Just yesterday, Arakawa Kirika suddenly had a whimsical idea and added a new rule, and told Shoko about her idea via Line.

From now on, whenever we're alone, you must kiss my hand before you speak to me.

Although Arakawa Kirika's initial idea was to have Shoko kiss her insteps, under Shoko's strong resistance, Arakawa Kirika could only give in a little and let her kiss the back of her hand instead.

After the ceremony, Arakawa Kirika seemed very satisfied, so she smiled and raised her hand, then placed it on Shoko's head and patted it affectionately.

"You've been very good, that's good."

However, Arakawa Kirika's praise made Shoko's face turn even redder.

The tone, similar to an adult praising a child or an owner praising a pet, made her feel quite conflicted.

Even though she is now nominally Arakawa Kirika's maid, Shoko doesn't want to be inferior to Arakawa Kirika in any real sense.

"What should I do next?"

Xiangzi turned his head away, refusing to look into Arakawa Kirika's eyes.

According to her original plan, today was supposed to start by waking Arakawa Kirika up from her bed.

But now that Arakawa Kirika was sitting in front of her, she didn't know what to do for a moment.

"You don't need to do anything. You are free to do whatever you want until I finish reading this book."

Arakawa Kirika's tone was very gentle today. After waving the book at Shoko, she resumed reading.

Do nothing...

Xiangzi bit his lip lightly.

If there were clear orders, it would be fine, but this somewhat ambiguous statement only made Xiangzi more confused.

At first, Xiangzi stayed by Arakawa Kirika's side, thinking that she might still have needs.

But half an hour later, Arakawa Kirika was still just reading a book, though it looked like it had been mostly turned over.

Xiangzi then stepped back.

Then Xiangzi began to tour his own home.

"Apart from the bathroom being completely renovated, the rest of the room is basically the same as I remember."

Xiangzi confirmed this fact.

She returned to her room, which had been occupied by Arakawa Kirika.

Even the furnishings in her room... the stickers on the walls, all remained exactly as she remembered them.

This puzzled Xiangzi.

Arakawa Kirika seems to be consciously keeping the house as it is.

Why is that?

With mixed feelings, Xiangzi returned to the hall.

She finally found something different from what she remembered.

The pool table that used to be in the living room, which my father used for social purposes, has been disposed of.

I was so focused on Arakawa Kirika that I didn't notice it.

The piano, however, remained safely in its original place.

Xiangzi didn't know why, but she couldn't help but smile.

She slowly walked to the piano and then sat down.

Her fingertips traced each black and white piano key, then she glanced back at Arakawa Kirika.

Should I thank her...?

An idea inexplicably popped into my head.

But Xiangzi quickly dismissed the idea in his mind.

What... what am I thinking? How could I possibly thank the perpetrator...?

Xiangzi shook his head.

But... she just said she's free to move around... right?

So... playing the piano is certainly part of [Free Action].

Xiangzi smiled.

She remembered that the scumbag seemed to really like her playing the piano.

Volume 1: Chapter 70 As long as you're by my side...

After some time, Arakawa Kirika finally put down her book.

She deliberately waited for Xiangzi to finish playing the new song before calling her back to her side.

You seem to be in a good mood.

Arakawa Kirika's expression remained languid, and her tone was calm.

"I... am I in a good mood...?"

Xiangzi opened her eyes wide and murmured, "I'm not quite sure about this myself."

"Yes, I can tell from your playing."

Arakawa Kirika nodded firmly.

Is that so... I was in a good mood.

Xiangzi's lips curled up slightly once again, almost unconsciously.

But at this moment, Xiangzi also noticed.

Arakawa Kirika's current state is a bit strange.

She was neither as aggressive as she would be in her normal state.

It's not like the "Energy Saving Mode," which is harmless and even completely incapable of taking care of itself.

If I had to describe it, Arakawa Kirika is currently in a state of half-dreaming and half-awake.

So Xiangzi asked cautiously.

"Did you...have breakfast?"

Arakawa Kirika rubbed her temples wearily, then nodded.

She also planned to stand up by putting her feet on the ground.

"Wait a moment……"

Xiangzi frowned, because she had already noticed that Arakawa Kirika had walked barefoot onto the sofa.

Arakawa Kirika tilted her head and looked at Shoko with a puzzled expression, but obediently stopped her legs in mid-air.

Xiangzi hurriedly went to the entrance, picked out a spare pair of slippers from the shoe cabinet, and then returned to Arakawa Kirika's side to help her put them on before speaking.

"That's enough... By the way, didn't you notice that you'll catch a cold if you walk barefoot on the ground?"

Arakawa Kirika nodded thoughtfully at Xiangzi's concern, but judging from her expression, she clearly didn't take it to heart at all.

Because... Arakawa Kirika has never experienced the feeling of being sick since birth.

This may also be a manifestation of her physical strength.

She carries the surname [Arakawa]. If she were to be defeated by mere viruses or bacteria, her purity would be far too low!

Arakawa Kirika walked slowly into the kitchen and took a bag of snacks from the refrigerator.

She returned to the hall and placed the bag in front of Xiangzi.

"Want some?"

After saying that, Arakawa Kirika slumped back onto the sofa.

Xiangzi began to doubt whether he was seeing things.

She blinked and rubbed her eyes, but the reality before her remained unchanged.

She noticed the brand name of the bag of snacks.

What shocked her was not how expensive the snacks were.

On the contrary, the bag of snacks were cheap treats that could be bought at any convenience store.

What... is going on?

Based on Xiangzi's understanding of Arakawa Kirika, Arakawa Kirika would never put such cheap goods into her mouth.

So... what's going on here?

Seeing that Shoko was standing there in a daze, Arakawa Kirika adjusted her posture, stood up straight again, and continued to explain in that lazy tone.

"Because there was this guy who was so enthusiastic it was almost annoying, he kept recommending this stuff to me as delicious, so I decided to try buying some."

As Arakawa Kirika spoke, she handed her phone to Shoko, as if to prove something.

Xiangzi took the phone and looked at it.

【Chihaya Aine】......

The name made Xiangzi frown immediately; it felt familiar.

After a while, she remembered that it was the pink-clad girl she had met in the brass band.

Xiangzi knew that Aine and Arakawa Kirika were in the same class, but she didn't expect that Arakawa Kirika would allow the other to become her Line friend.

and……

Xiangzi subconsciously scrolled up through the message history.

But no matter how hard I try, I can't get to the end.

This girl named Aine is such a chatterbox! She can talk so much...

Xiangzi felt a twitch at the corner of his mouth.

If it were me, being bombarded with messages of this caliber every day, I might even consider blocking the other person.