Uneasy daily life

No phone calls, no text messages, no news.

Inside the rented room, Yukinoshita Haruno leaned against the headboard, staring at her phone absently, her expression thoughtful.

What am I waiting for? No… what am I expecting? Am I waiting for my 'boyfriend' to send me a goodnight message or something?

That kind of superficial relationship and polite concern is the most boring thing. Just like myself and Yukino-chan, if we had to send each other 'goodnight' every night to prove that we are good sisters, that would be disgusting.

Words, promises, questions, answers... communication between people is filled with impulses, lies, escapism, and cover-ups, yet these seemingly trivial things somehow seem to prove something.

Have I taken off my mask, or put on a new one, or is there still a mask beneath the mask?

Yukinoshita is well aware of her psychological problems, which are simply a difficulty in believing in anything.

Even now, I still don't quite trust my parents. I don't believe that my mother has no complaints about me and won't suddenly interfere again one day. I don't believe that my father can offer help and stand by my side. I don't believe Yukino-chan's conclusion that "you like him," nor do I believe Shirakage's explanation that "you like music." Compared to others, not believing Shirakage's words feels naturally easy.

People who are willing to believe will stop believing after being deceived and disappointed a few times.

So, does truth really exist in this world?

Yukinoshita closed her eyes and quietly hummed a tune.

Yukino-chan probably believes it exists, and to some extent, she's a little envious of it.

Chapter Six: A Little Envious

A ray of sunlight streamed down from the sky.

It looked like a dazzling dark cloud.

I've heard that life has many directions.

It seems no different from getting lost.

Who told the story of happiness?

The hunter killed the big gray wolf.

The mermaid sang in the bubbles.

The girl selling matches froze to death.

The clown duck spreads its white wings.

Obedience, love, compassion, and strength.

It sounds utterly absurd.

Children should not stray from the right path.

Love must be sung through suffering.

Life is always consumed by extravagant desires.

Swans are prettier than ducks.

A ray of sunlight streamed down from the sky.

Reflected in the mirror, it was empty.

There is no truth in the story.

……

"Ugh...uh...ah..."

Bai Ying sat on the sofa, clutching her head and struggling in pain. The laptop on the coffee table was mostly blank, with only a small portion filled with black text.

"You're out of writing again?"

Mai Sakurajima sat at the other end, flipping through the script in her hands, and peeked at the computer screen with interest: "Hmm... your lyrics are pretty depressing, I feel like they don't quite fit with Director Okita's script, do they?"

"Ha, a mere director of Mo Dao Zu Shi, the shallow meanings he uttered between the lines are practically smeared in my face."

Bai Ying barely managed to break free from the abyss of stagnation and said disdainfully, "What 'A Beautiful Story in the Human World'? It seems to be a comedy, but it is clearly a tragedy. The theme of the story is the sense of confusion of youth intertwined with the changes of the times. To the audience, their stories are good and bad, but in reality, they are all tossed around by the times. Some are arranged for their lives by their families, some are hit by good luck, and some are struggling to be flushed into the sewer... They all want but cannot get, and do not even know what they are asking for. The director of 'The Untamed' is still suffering from the disease of being a literary youth. It has a kind of beauty that is about to flop."

The white figure revealed a blatant mockery of its peers.

"Hmm..." Sakurajima Mai crossed her legs, looked down at the script carefully, and said, "It seems to have that kind of meaning..."

"I've always said that 'closed-door training' is unreliable, but the director of 'The Untamed' insisted on his own way. The result is simply appalling. The parts that are funny and entertaining are too shallow, the parts that try to show depth are not enough, and the tragedy is too weak. It just can't bring the story to your heart..."

The white-clad figure displayed his pointing prowess: "In short, my milk director is definitely going to flop!"

"What would the hater write?"

Sakurajima Mai asked.

“I don’t know, I’m stuck in writer’s block,” Bai Ying shrugged. “The director of Mo Dao Zu Shi wants to film something about the confusion of youth… or rather, the confusion of modern people? After all, from childhood to adulthood, in a sense, we’ve been deceived from childhood to adulthood, coupled with the influence of the times, the suppression of self by society, and the unique questioning of tradition by young people, etc.”

Bai Ying snapped her fingers: "Take 'Brave Plus' as an example—'Fatherly love is like a mountain, majestic, profound, and silent.' This broad phrase, used to describe a father's feelings for his child, sounds reasonable at first glance, but to your ears, it just sounds like…"

"That's it."

Mai Sakurajima stepped on the white figure's toes, and said with a forced smile, "When you give examples, do you always like to step on other people's landmines?"

"This proves I'm right."

Bai Ying said confidently, "You're getting impatient. I'm right!"

"Virtue."

Sakurajima Mai rolled her eyes, lowered her head again, and while carefully flipping through the script, she casually kicked off her left slipper, spreading her toes through the hazy black stockings, and continued to ravage the white figure's toes. However, without the hardness of the slipper sole, the stomping action was somewhat of a bait and switch.

“Hmm… From this perspective, is the director questioning the meaning of values ​​like ‘filial piety,’ ‘love,’ ‘compassion,’ and ‘struggle’?” Mai Sakurajima said thoughtfully. “Reality is complicated. It’s always easy to find evidence to refute a certain statement, but after refuting these things, if you can’t find anything to affirm, then all that’s left is confusion. This script seems pretty good.”

"You think too much."

Bai Ying curled her lip and said, "You're working so hard to find meaning in the script, how could the script be meaningless? From a hater's perspective, I strongly suggest you take this movie. This is your first step in transitioning to acting. Try to make your career more challenging and create a real-life version of 'Don't underestimate a poor girl'..."

Mai Sakurajima pressed down hard with her foot and said with a smile, "If you hater didn't think it was a good idea, why would you agree to the director's invitation to sing a song?"

"Because I have no money."

Bai Ying sang in a deep voice, "Summer has just passed, and my wallet is already as desolate as autumn."

"As the weather gradually cooled down, my heart and my wallet cooled down as well."

"The world is still as beautiful as ever, it's just that I have no money."

“Creating has become painful and difficult to sustain, but I don’t have any money yet.”

"If you keep talking, Chekhov will come to you in his dreams asking for royalties."

Mai Sakurajima frowned slightly and said, "But where did you spend all your money?"

Bai Ying recalled briefly: "Hmm... making fireworks, getting a new computer, buying costumes for the performance, renting this apartment..."

"You really do like to spend money recklessly in strange places; that's not a good habit," Mai Sakurajima said helplessly. "If you don't manage your wealth properly, you'll run into big problems in the future."

"It's okay. Once I've squeezed some money out of the director of Mo Dao Zu Shi, I'll be able to roam around again."

Bai Ying sighed again, "I feel like something's missing. I'm lacking inspiration. I need to think about the lyrics again..."

"Well……"

Mai Sakurajima tilted her head and said, "Compared to feet, Black Fan-kun really does prefer hands?"

“Brave Plus, I must clarify something with you seriously—it’s not me who likes hands, it’s the Killer Queen.” The white figure pulled her foot out and said earnestly, “Besides, the Killer Queen only likes hands. Do you know why she’s called the Killer Queen? Because she’s obsessed with killing anything other than hands.”

Mai Sakurajima smiled and spread her left hand with five fingers: "Doesn't the hater need a little encouragement?"

"It was truly a beautiful hand. To describe it as slender and beautiful would be somewhat vulgar and ordinary, and to simply call it beautiful would fall short. I pondered this with distress and worry, when suddenly I felt my mouth water—yes, I felt a kind of hunger, wanting to feel the touch of this hand with my lips, wanting to taste the flavor of this hand with my tongue, wanting to gently nibble on it with my teeth, and listen to the melodious and moving sound it made..."

Bai Ying described it with deep affection, then swallowed hard: "Gulp."

"..."

Sakurajima Mai withdrew her hand with lightning speed, realizing her mistake and revealing her timidity. She raised her hand to smooth her hair: "Alright! That's enough with your praise. If you continue, it could be used as evidence in court... Ahem, also, do you have any clues about the matter of Kazuha?"

"This kind of thing..." Bai Ying stroked his chin, "Brave Plus, if your dad suddenly wanted to remarry your mom, what would you think?"

"Huh?" Mai Sakurajima paused for a moment, then exhaled, "This is Mom's business, what right do I have to think about it?"

"So you do have an idea."

Bai Ying spread his hands and said, "This is the stick figure's idea—I already have a brilliant plan on how to complete the commission, but it is a trade secret and I cannot disclose it."

I have a feeling that things are going to get a bit of a headache for Kazuha...

However, it's alright if it can be resolved.

If all else fails, it seems we can only put the problem aside for now and wait for things to develop in the future.

Sakurajima Mai was somewhat helpless. After checking the time, she picked up the script and left.

"I suddenly have another brilliant idea!" Bai Ying excitedly followed behind, saying, "In my opinion, the stick figure definitely has some issues with you. If I get her to ask you to 'make my sister and father reconcile,' it's a matter of tit for tat, and it'll let the stick figure vent his anger..."

"Hate Fan, your brilliant plan isn't going to make me back out and cancel the commission, is it?"

"Solving the client's problems is also a way to resolve the client's problems."

"I think you miss the temperature of the Zhenchu ​​River."

As the two bantered with each other, they arrived at the door. Mai Sakurajima pressed the doorknob, opened the door, and stepped out, only to suddenly notice the back of a middle-aged man standing outside the opposite door.

The little goddess went out to buy something and hasn't come home yet?

Yukinoshita's father was looking at the reply on his phone, preparing to wait a while, when he heard the door open behind him and instinctively turned around to look.

Yukinoshita's father: "?"

Bai Ying greeted, "Hey, big brother, are you here for a free meal?"

"..." Sakurajima Mai paused for a moment, then nodded and said, "Hello, Uncle."

"..." Yukinoshita's father fell silent for a moment, then his gaze suddenly sharpened, sweeping back and forth between the two like a searchlight. He bombarded them with questions like a machine gun, "Why are you here? And why are you here? How long have you been in the room? When did it start? What did you do? What did you say?"

Sakurajima Mai: "..."

Could Yukinoshita's father be any more direct? Is he really an adult or a primary school student?

Bai Ying said, "I live here, and she lives next door. We shared a room from seven o'clock for about half an hour, discussing and exchanging opinions about the script, exchanging dozens of words."

"?"

Yukinoshita's father was a little confused. When did this villain live so close to the little goddess? When did Sakurajima Mai also live so close?!

What's going on? It's only been a few days! What on earth happened? Has the chariot of time already kicked me away with a powerful kick?!

Why are you here? What is your purpose? What are you planning to do?

The white figure's voice suddenly turned stern and solemn, booming back like a machine gun.

Yukino's father said instinctively, "I came to talk to Yukino about her internship... Wait, are you going to interrogate me later?"

The father looked displeased under the snow.

“I have to thank Uncle for taking care of Mom so that we were able to rent a place here,” Mai Sakurajima said with a smile. “The rooms in this apartment building were originally rented to the families of Uncle’s company employees. I was able to live here because of Uncle’s generous treatment of his employees…”

The second traitor's aggression has suddenly increased?!

Yukinoshita's father frowned, suddenly remembering something—didn't the little goddess rent out an empty room in her apartment before? Probably with the idea of ​​luring in a villain... Unexpectedly, not only was the villain successfully lured in, but even her love rival was lured in.

The little goddess knows nothing about military affairs, it seems I'll have to take matters into my own hands!

"It's hardly a generous treatment," Yukinoshita's father said sternly. "Your mother is no longer considered my employee."

Sakurajima Mai was taken aback, her eyes turning strange. "Are you such a shameless adult?"

"A man of his word, dismissed on the spot—truly worthy of the title of eldest brother!" Bai Ying exclaimed. "Revenge for personal gain, ruthless and merciless, eliminating all threats—truly a hero of his generation!"

"Your words are a bit harsh. Young people should learn how to speak properly to avoid upsetting others."

Yukinoshita's father snorted: "I didn't do anything strange. It was your mother who resigned voluntarily. I just received her resignation letter today."

"Ok?"

Sakurajima Mai was a little surprised; was her mother planning to change jobs?

"You don't know?" Yukinoshita's father said meaningfully, "Since we're family, shouldn't we communicate about something this important? Not caring about and being considerate of family members isn't a good habit."

Mai Sakurajima snapped out of her daze and retorted with a gentle yet firm tone: "Every family has its own situation. My mother and I used to work together and had some major conflicts over work issues. After we reconciled, we stopped interfering with each other on such matters. My mother's decision to resign naturally has its reasons, and I trust her choice. Uncle is so caring and considerate towards his family, so his family relationships must be quite good, right?"

"?"

Yukinoshita's father looked at the white figure—you traitor, you've been colluding with the enemy and leaking intelligence?!