Want to be human, but cube-like

"It doesn't need too many design elements, right? After all, it's just a costume for one-time use."

Xiangzi, having finally finished writing the new menu, rubbed his eyes, which were slightly tired from staring at the screen for so long.

"I glanced at him," he said casually.

She didn't believe that Aine and her temporary band would last long. Leaving aside Lena and Alex, Aine was going to study in England next month and would definitely leave then.

Besides, judging from Aine's appearance, she's just there for the fun of it all, and it's hard to say whether she can hold out until then.

Perhaps tomorrow, before the performance even begins, some may back out due to stage fright.

Xiangzi secretly grumbled to herself, but she would never admit that she was jealous that Ai Yin and Eric could perform publicly without any worries.

"Life needs a little ritual to be happy!"

Ignoring Xiangzi's words and not even refuting his claim that the costume would only be used once, Ai Yin simply smiled and said...

"Moreover, it is precisely because the opportunity may only come once that we should try our best to leave no regrets!"

She herself understood that this temporary band would at most last until the end of next month, after which she would have to part ways with everyone.

Therefore, Aine could only ignore Alex's feelings and her own thoughts, and put them aside as if nothing had happened.

"Ah! I thought of it!"

Suddenly, an idea struck her, and she pulled a thin garment from a bag beside her.

It was the off-the-shoulder top that Alex tried on yesterday.

Even though Alex couldn't fit into it and she couldn't pull it off herself, for some reason, Aine still bought it.

"If we alter this, I think it could be worn by Xiao Le Nai."

Ai Yin pondered, lightly touching the fabric between her fingertips.

Then, her thoughts drifted, and she subconsciously recalled the scene in the fitting room yesterday.

"Cough cough..."

Her face flushed slightly, she coughed twice, looked up and saw that Xiangzi hadn't noticed anything amiss, and then she breathed a sigh of relief.

"Paired with this short skirt, it looks good. Let's slightly modify the style of the decorations..."

Hearing that she seemed to have an idea, Xiangzi also turned his gaze over, and frowned slightly when he saw the thin clothing.

"This is too thin, and isn't it too revealing? Won't it be cold?"

"I'll wear another jacket over it then... Hmm, it could also be designed so that the sleeves of the jacket are tied around the waist to cover the lower abdomen a little. Hmm, that kind of subtle exposure would be pretty nice!"

Without looking up, Ai-yin muttered something under her breath.

"It's only a few minutes of performance time. You can change back into your clothes after you go offstage. It's such a short time, you won't catch a cold."

She shook the pen and smiled faintly.

"what……"

Shaking his head, Xiangzi didn't say anything more to interfere with Aine's decision.

She always felt that Ai Yin's design approach seemed to be focused on the degree of exposure, and the several plans she drew always gave Xiangzi a strange sense of déjà vu.

The style and concept seem to have a strange overlap with the clothes in Alex's wardrobe.

However, the two uniforms made for them today were unusually conservative. Only Xiangzi's skirt had a hem that was said to have been altered many times before becoming so short.

I don't even know if this reason is true or false...

Refocusing his attention on the bill in front of him, Xiangzi needed to allocate a sum of money from the hamburger shop's account specifically for exchanging coins.

She had heard from Alex that the demand for trade within the Sky Island was quite substantial.

Moreover, with such a high demand for coins, the bank can't let her withdraw them at will; she has to make an appointment every time. In order to avoid being caught off guard later, she needs to plan how to use the funds now.

The two girls, caught up in their busy work, fell silent again. The burger shop suddenly became quiet, with only the sounds of fingers tapping on a keyboard and pencils scratching paper alternating.

I do not know how long it has been.

"Click."

A sound came from the stairwell door, and Alex pushed it open and walked out, followed closely by Lena pulling a small cart.

The two idle white fluffy balls were sent upstairs to play music by the two busy girls, and only then did they come down satisfied.

“Aiyin, Xiang…”

Just as she was about to speak, Alex paused in surprise.

She looked up and saw two girls sitting opposite each other at the counter, both of them slumped over the counter, fast asleep.

Walking slowly over, Alex looked curiously at the two of them, their little hands clasped together, their cheeks resting on each other, sleeping peacefully. Then she turned around and exchanged a glance with Lena, who was tilting her head.

"So, it turns out that people can sleep without a bed?"

Seeing that the latter didn't react, she muttered something under her breath.

"I'm so envious~"

Alex gently sat down next to Aine and sighed.

She also wants the ability to lie down and sleep anytime, anywhere, and save her progress.

…………

P.S. A scene suddenly came to mind today.

On the second day after Valentine's Day, around noon, Ai Yin and Alex had just stepped out of their hotel room when they heard people talking loudly in the lobby:

Wasn't yesterday Valentine's Day?

Yeah, what happened?

Last night I heard my neighbor calling for their mother repeatedly; I thought it was Mother's Day.

Aion, her face flushed, was about to pull Alex away.

Alex then asked, "Mom, what is Mother's Day?"

Instantly, everyone in the entire hotel lobby turned their attention to the two of them.

……

What are "ordinary" and "taken for granted"?

Volume 1: Chapter 134 Tonight we'll eat cat meat

The burger joint has very good soundproofing.

Even though there's a bustling street right outside the door, and the livehouse across the street is still under renovation, the store remains quiet and peaceful at this moment.

Lena, who followed Alex, didn't say a word. She wasn't a talkative child to begin with. After exchanging a glance with Alex, she looked at the two people sleeping on the counter, yawned slightly, and sat down next to them, lying down and closing her eyes as well.

In a way, she also considered everyone as a friend?

After all, whenever Lena is asked what she does when she's not at the burger shop, she either says she's sunbathing with her friends or sleeping with them.

The friend that Lenai mentioned, whom they had never met, was quite mysterious.

Following Aine's posture, Alex also lay down next to her, folding her hands under her chin, tilting her cheek, and quietly watching her.

"Huh...huh..."

Her slightly parted lips, under the bright indoor light, reflected a moist, light pink hue, as translucent as jelly.

It was delicious, and Alex was quite engrossed in watching it.

Her occasional sweet breaths, softly exhaled, permeated the air, brushing lightly against Alex's cheeks, leaving a faint warmth.

She gazed at Ai Yin's sweet face as she slept, and her mood gradually calmed down.

But when Alex closed her eyes, she couldn't fall asleep like the other three.

After all, she wasn't lying in bed right now.

Alex turned her head slightly and looked at Xiangzi, who was lying face down opposite her.

She was sleeping soundly, her blue ponytails drooping listlessly on the edge of the counter, a few strands playfully entwining her slender fingers. A wisp of light blue hair fell to her slightly upturned lips, gently pursed by Xiangzi's lips. The scene was serene, making one instinctively want to hold their breath.

This was the first time Alex had ever seen Xiangzi sleep so peacefully, and the smile on her lips seemed somewhat different from the one she usually saw.

Including this time, she had only seen Xiangzi's sleeping face twice. The first time was the day she had just picked him up. At that time, Xiangzi not only looked haggard, but also had a furrowed brow and was crying in his sleep.

The contrast with now is quite stark.

Now, Xiangzi's complexion is much rosier, and he is no longer like when we first met, with a tense face all day, a fake smile, and a stiff tone.

Even when facing Aine and Rakuna, she can chat and laugh with them in a relaxed manner, with a gentle expression.

She preferred Xiangzi to be soft and cuddly like this.

After quietly enjoying the peaceful atmosphere for a long time, Alex finally sat up straight, looked up, and glanced at the wall clock.

It was almost dinnertime. Looking out the window, I saw the sky was getting dark. Most of the passersby glanced at the sign hanging in front of the burger shop. They all seemed to be people looking for food.

Should we wake them up?

Alex hesitated for a moment as she stood up.

However, before she could make a decision, the slight sound of the chair scraping against the ground as she got up woken up Xiangzi, who was a light sleeper.

"Well……"

Opening her still hazy eyes, Xiangzi lay on the counter for a while before gradually waking up. She supported herself on the counter with both hands, slowly straightened up, and stared blankly at the two people sleeping in front of her, as well as Alex beside her.

"You're awake, Xiangzi."

Seeing that Xiangzi had already woken up, Alex stopped worrying. After she finished speaking, she bent down, leaned close to Aine, and gently nudged her shoulder.

"Aine? Time to get up."

He called softly.

"Woo~"

With a muffled whimper, Ai Yin squinted through a crack beneath her trembling eyelashes. She wasn't sure if she could even see Alex leaning close to her. She rubbed her hands together slightly, then turned her head away, burying her face back between her folded hands.

"It's almost dinner time."

Helplessly, Alex nudged Aine's shoulder again and continued.

"Alex...was I...asleep?"

Xiangzi also came to her senses. She looked down, thought for a moment, and confirmed that she had finished all her work before finally lying down to sleep.

Actually, it was mainly because Aine fell asleep in front of her first that the peaceful atmosphere of her afternoon nap was transmitted to Xiangzi, infecting her and arousing her drowsiness.

"Rakuna-kun?"

Seeing Alex waking Aine, Xiangzi glanced at the time, leaned over, and tried to wake Ronai in a soft voice.

There was no movement from Renai's side, but Aine was finally woken up by Alex.

However, she didn't seem to be fully conscious.

"Ellie~"

She mumbled a soft call out, and Ai-yin smiled sweetly at Alex in a coquettish tone.

She blinked her bewildered eyes, her gaze unconsciously following Alex's pretty face, and leaned closer.

"Hehehe~..."

With a less-than-elegant smile playing on her lips, Aine nuzzled Alex's cheek and murmured.

"Well?"

Although somewhat puzzled by Aine's actions, Alex, who also found it quite comfortable, didn't stop her and simply let her rub her face against hers.

“…Alex, I think you should shake Aine awake.”

Nearby, Xiangzi was still calling out to Lena, who was not responding at all. When she saw the two of them being so affectionate, she couldn't stand it anymore and, with a little bit of ulterior motive towards Aine, she made a suggestion.

However, before Alex could understand Xiangzi's words and start to act, Aine was slightly more sober because of her voice.

"……Eh?"