Chapter 22: And That’s Settled
“Mmm…”
Night Star was once again lost in thought.
So she could actually decide the contents of the Grand Performance!?
Just earlier they were discussing it together!
“No! We have to discuss this together. It’s not fair for me to do all the heavy thinking while everyone else is slacking off. This is way too dirty!”
It’s like giving a crucial task to a new employee. Even if that new hire is incredibly capable, they’d still feel the pressure doubling down on them.
Similarly…
If Night Star were allowed to decide the Grand Performance alone, her inner self would be in a terrible state.
Under Night Star’s insistence, everyone began discussing it.
Opera, stage play, and singing could be temporarily set aside.
Although these performances can loop, there are still so many fun projects untouched, it’d be a real shame.
A while later.
The theme of the Grand Performance was finally decided.
That’s right, it was going to be magic!
A magic show that was both spectacular and jaw-dropping!
Exactly fitting for a Group Leader who excelled in this field.
Night Star looked at the Group Leader with a warm smile.
“Then I entrust the responsibility of this Grand Performance to you, Group Leader. Please think about how to design an awe-inspiring magic trick.”
“Mm, I will do my best to complete this mission.”
And the discussion was over.
The Group Leader would focus on designing the magic performance, while other members could also offer suggestions and participate in the planning. When everything falls into place, it’ll be a splendid Grand Performance.
In this case,
This Grand Performance would undoubtedly be one of the shortest yet.
After all, how long could just one magic trick last?
And as for Night Star, well, she could just kick back and relax.
This time should be much easier.
Pretty nice, indeed!
Then Night Star started pondering another matter.
After concluding the Grand Performance in Pinghai City, they would head to the next destination.
Where would the next stop be?
She hoped it wasn’t too far away and preferably wasn’t overseas.
There were still many domestic places left unexplored. The thought of heading to some entirely unknown foreign land was just too disheartening.
Hopefully, they could continue shifting within the country.
Night Star could use her [Probability Interference] skill to give things a nudge.
Randomness didn’t work on her anyway!
If even that failed, there was always the Wish Machine!
No matter what.
Let’s leave Night Lan to handle the preparations for sleep at the theater.
Zero Meow was extremely excited.
Because the Audience Performer had been close with her all day, and she hasn’t calmed down since.
Now, she claimed she wanted to draw ten pictures of the Audience Performer in various positions, which suggested she intended to pull an all-nighter.
Fortunately, the Audience Performer happened to be both Night Star and Night Lan.
Otherwise, if someone found out their pictures were being drawn, their feelings would be quite delicate.
Night Lan was fully aware of Zero Meow’s nature, so she let her proceed.
Drawing someone’s pictures conveyed Zero Meow’s affection towards that person.
The more she liked someone, the more pictures she drew of them, storing them away but never sharing them with strangers.
Zero Meow had already drawn every single little loli around her.
Especially Night Lan.
Night Lan had the most drawings!
Night Lan had once seen Zero Meow’s photo gallery. The categorization was strikingly clear.
The drawings of White Fish and other little lolis were mostly above ten.
But the ones of Night Lan herself were easily several dozen!
Almost unbelievably!
There were apparently many incomplete rough sketches from Zero Meow, and if she completed them, it wouldn’t just be the number shown.
Scary stuff.
Such unique and rare little lolis, Zero Meow could really only produce something like this.
Night Lan reckoned Zero Meow might stay up tonight to finish drawing, so she probably wouldn’t share the bed with her.
So Night Lan decided it would be better to return to the theater and sleep with Night Star after all.
She had to hug a loli after all.
Though White Fish and the others could suffice, given the choice between Night Star and them, naturally, Night Star would take priority.
Sleeping with yourself was surely the best!
Inside the Night Watcher Base’s lounge.
As time passed further into the night.
The other little loli girls started heading back to their rooms.
Now, only Zero Meow and Night Lan remained in the lounge.
Night Lan glanced at the clock and realized it was getting late.
“Zero Meow, I need to head to the theater to sleep; you carry on drawing okay?”
“Mu-miao?! You’re going to abandon me, Night Lan?”
Zero Meow’s expression suddenly turned pitiful and desperate, like a kitten feeling abandoned.
Scruffy Zero Meow would never express that sort of vulnerability!
Night Lan knew Zero Meow very well.
“You’re planning to stay up all night to draw those racy pictures, right? Most of the time, you’ll be sleeping alone, and that’d be incredibly uncomfortable.”
Zero Meow dropped the act and entered deep thought, as if contemplating something serious.
“Then maybe I should get some sleep early tonight and skip the drawings?”
“Nope! You promised! We made that agreement, and we can’t renege.”
Of course, it was only a casual remark.
All promises were meaningless to her anyway.
Zero Meow gave up trying.
“Miao… Okay Miao, I’ll stay up and keep drawing. You go get your beauty rest with the Audience Performer then. Though you two are getting awfully close. Fine, fine, eventually, I’ll drag both of you into bed. Just saying.”
“If you don’t mind, you can always come sleep in the theater. They’d welcome you with open arms。”
Night Lan naturally couldn’t overlook Zero Meow’s feelings.
She didn’t want anything to upset her.
But Zero Meow shook her head fiercely, reminiscent of a toy drum.
“N-No… I’m not sure I can sleep there. Night Lan is just too impressive.”
The first time Zero Meow went to the theater, she was horrified by its creepy atmosphere.
Not having nightmares after leaving that place would be considered a win.
She hadn’t expected Night Lan to be such a frequent visitor.
Had she become some kind of deity?
That’s simply incredible.
Zero Meow definitely couldn’t fall asleep peacefully there.
She’d likely shake with fear through the night.
By comparison, Night Lan could only be described as a brave knight!
Too powerful.
“Alright.”
Seeing Zero Meow showed no signs of distress, Night Lan stopped pressing.
“You try your best then. I’ll be back in the morning.”
“Goodnight, kitty!”
After Night Lan left, Zero Meow immediately sat on the bed and started drawing.
“I wonder if the Audience Performer would get mad if she found out I was drawing her naughty pictures? Based on today’s interaction, she doesn’t seem bothered by this kind of thing… She seems kinda like Night Lan. Becoming Night Lan’s friend is pretty good. Anyway… If Night Lan isn’t mad, the Audience Performer won’t be either.”
So far, all signs indicated:
Since Night Lan wasn’t upset about it, the Audience Performer shouldn’t be either.
Maybe Night Lan had already told the Audience Performer about this ahead of time.
Yeah.
If that’s the case,
Next time she meets the Audience Performer, she’s showing her the best of her work!
Must get her to remove that mask.
Zero Meow had eagerly desired to see what’s beneath that mask of the Audience Performer.
To deepen their bond, the best approach would be—sleeping together.
However, the Audience Performer usually stays at the Rising Sun Theater.
Zero Meow just couldn’t adapt to that kind of setting.
“What a tough spot,”
Indeed.
