With the arrival of Kurokawa Akane, the hospital room clearly gained a noticeably gentler atmosphere.
Looking at the girl's worried expression, Michiya Gōshin smiled, using his right hand to lightly squeeze her cold fingertips in return, offering comfort. "Kurokawa, aren't I awake now? I just need time to recuperate, that's all. Don't be too worried."
"By the way, I couldn't make it to your stage play performance yesterday..."
"It ended perfectly. The audience was very satisfied."
Kurokawa Akane knew what he wanted to say, and her tone carried a rare hint of dissatisfaction. "I know everything. You did this to protect someone else..."
She took a deep breath, as if having made a certain determination, and stared at him with burning intensity.
"I asked [Director Aoyama]. He said you would likely need two months to recover, so I pushed back all my work for the next two months! I must stay here to take care of you during this time!"
The girl's tone was resolute and decisive, carrying an unquestionable determination.
"..."
Michiya Gōshin was silent for a moment. "Kurokawa, this kind of thing..."
"Michiya-kun."
Kurokawa Akane was extremely persistent about this; she even leaned her body forward, closing the distance between them until her faint fragrance drifted to the tip of Michiya Gōshin's nose.
"I told you last time. Since I've made a decision, I will persist until the very end, unless I receive an answer."
She was referring to her feelings for Michiya Gōshin. Although there had been no true confession, after their conversation that day, both of them had a tacit understanding.
"Michiya-kun's family is gone. Now that you are sick, of course I must stay here to take care of you!"
The girl's tone carried a sense of near-paranoia, laced with a strand of possessiveness.
She was different from Sakurajima Mai. Sakurajima Mai could currently only be considered a close friend of Michiya Gōshin, but Kurokawa Akane had long since revealed her hand.
Unless he directly rejected her, cutting off all possibilities right then and there...
Otherwise, she would not compromise.
"Really..."
Michiya Gōshin rubbed the space between his eyebrows, then glanced at Yamazaki Kento standing nearby. The latter understood the situation at this moment and immediately spoke up to help his brother out of the siege.
"Um... Kurokawa-san, actually, I just promised Michiya I'd stay to look after him. We are both guys, so, for example, helping him to the restroom or something might be more convenient..."
Before he could finish, Kurokawa Akane interrupted him directly.
"It doesn't matter. Actually, I can do those things too. Michiya-kun, what do you think?"
"Does it have to be like this?" Michiya Gōshin asked.
"Yes. I basically didn't sleep last night. I can't bear the thought of losing you, Michiya-kun..."
This is the answer my heart gave me.
Kurokawa Akane gripped Michiya Gōshin's hand with even more force, her words holding not a shred of concession.
"..."
At this point, Yamazaki Kento stopped speaking as well. He figured it out—this lady might be the 'official partner'.
In this round, the bro really was powerless.
Just as Michiya Gōshin was getting a headache over how to persuade Kurokawa Akane, the next wave of visitors arrived.
This time, it was the familiar quartet from the dating show. Kumano Nobuyuki held a large bouquet of sunflowers in full bloom, symbolizing hope and vitality, while Morimoto Kengo carried two fruit baskets that looked decidedly high-end.
As for the girls, [Asakura Toru] and [MEM-cho] each carried a beautifully wrapped square gift box, which appeared to be get-well gifts.
"Michiya-kun."
They greeted him in unison, their voices full of sincere concern.
"Everyone... you all came."
Seeing his familiar friends, a genuine smile appeared on Michiya Gōshin's pale face. He tried to sit up straighter but pulled at the wound on his arm, causing him to frown slightly.
"Don't move, don't move!"
Morimoto Kengo immediately stepped forward, waving his hands. "Just lie there properly. Seeing the news today really scared us to death!"
"Yeah, what did the doctor say? How long for recovery?"
Kumano Nobuyuki walked over, wanting to ask about the specific situation, while [MEM-cho] placed her gift on the bedside table, looking at Michiya Gōshin's face with equal worry.
As for [Asakura Toru], from the moment she entered, her clear, water-like cyan eyes had been fixed unblinkingly on Michiya Gōshin. Her gaze trembled slightly, especially upon seeing his bandage-wrapped arm and his weak appearance.
She didn't speak immediately, but similarly placed her gift on the bedside table first.
Yamazaki Kento, standing in the corner at this time, keenly captured [Asakura Toru]'s expression, and waves of shock once again surged in his heart.
He had watched [Love is a Required Course in Life], so naturally, he recognized these people. But seeing the look in her eyes as she gazed at Michiya Gōshin, astonishment spontaneously arose in his heart again.
This Asakura-san... hiss...
Another one?!
Yamazaki Kento glanced at Michiya Gōshin again, then hurriedly covered his own mouth.
Upon seeing everyone arrive, a smile also appeared on Kurokawa Akane's delicate face; after all, everyone who participated in the dating show had a good relationship.
However, she did not let go of Michiya Gōshin's hand. Instead, a brighter smile bloomed on her face as she explained to everyone in a gentle tone, "The doctor has already spoken. The surgery was very successful, but he needs to recuperate for about two months."
"Two months?"
The dating show group was stunned. They knew Michiya Gōshin was currently the top-billed male lead for [Alice in Borderland]. If he had to recuperate for two months, it would mean a significant loss.
"Sigh, it can't be helped, I guess. Health comes first."
At this moment, the group also noticed Yamazaki Kento standing to the side and greeted him.
After everyone chatted for a while, Kato Megumi quietly returned to the ward carrying Michiya Gōshin's laptop. Seeing the crowd in the room, she simply nodded slightly and placed the computer on the bedside table.
Subsequently, she began to organize the get-well gifts everyone had brought, her movements agile and quiet, like a highly efficient background character.
Kurokawa Akane, on the other hand, seemed to remember something important. She glanced at the light porridge and side dishes Yamazaki Kento had just bought, then looked at Michiya Gōshin's arm in a cast and bandages, and an idea immediately formed in her mind.
"Michiya-kun, are you hungry? How about eating something first?"
She released the hand she had been holding extremely naturally, picked up the bowl of warm porridge, stirred it gently with a spoon, scooped up a spoonful, blew on it carefully, and brought it to Michiya Gōshin's lips.
This set of movements was completely fluid, without any pause.
"I'll do it myself..."
Michiya Gōshin glanced at her and decided to reach for the spoon himself, but was immediately rejected by Kurokawa Akane.
"How can you eat by yourself?"
Kurokawa Akane raised an eyebrow, her tone carrying a hint of playful rebuke. "Although your right hand isn't broken, your shoulder is injured too. It will hurt to lift it, right? Besides, the doctor said you should minimize movement."
Her voice became increasingly gentle as she lifted the spoon in her hand again.
"Come on, eat. Just a bite."
Michiya Gōshin sighed. He could feel the eyes of everyone in the room focusing on that spoonful of porridge.
The friends from the dating show all knew that Kurokawa Akane and Michiya Gōshin shared a profound relationship, so the two guys, Kumano and Morimoto, immediately wore expressions of watching a good show. [MEM-cho], although smiling, kept her attention on [Asakura Toru] beside her.
Both Kurokawa Akane and [Asakura Toru] were her good friends, but in terms of inner bias, she actually supported [Asakura Toru] and Michiya Gōshin.
As for Yamazaki Kento... he was trying hard to stifle his laughter, his shoulders shaking.
Although Kato Megumi was organizing things nearby, she only gave it an extra glance without making a sound, simply continuing with the work at hand.
After a stalemate of a few seconds, Michiya Gōshin sighed. Being fed is just being fed; it's nothing major anyway.
"Fine then, I'll trouble you."
Hearing this, Kurokawa Akane finally smiled with satisfaction. She carefully fed the porridge into his mouth, then meticulously wiped the corner of his mouth with a tissue.
She performed this entire process incredibly naturally, even with a sense of enjoyment, as if this were not caring for a patient, but performing some intimate ritual.
After about twenty minutes, the dating show group felt that today's visit was sufficient, as they couldn't disturb the patient's rest, so they planned to get up and take their leave.
Before leaving, [MEM-cho] playfully made a 'fighting' gesture to Michiya Gōshin. However, at this moment, [Asakura Toru] hesitated and did not leave immediately.
After a moment, she seemed to have made up her mind. Ignoring the curious gazes of the others, she walked directly to Michiya Gōshin's bedside.
"Michiya-kun, this is a gift for you. It's a [Fortune-Beckoning Little Monkey] I bought before. It is said to bless people with health. I hope you recover soon."
She proactively handed over a small gift box. This must have been in her pocket, not the get-well gift from earlier.
"Okay, thank you, Asakura."
Although Michiya Gōshin was stunned for a moment, he quickly accepted the exquisite small box, a warm current surging in his heart.
"I hope you can recover soon. Our promise hasn't been fulfilled yet."
She was referring to the promise Michiya Gōshin made to see her group's performance, a matter she had always remembered.
"Yeah, I won't forget. I will definitely go when the time comes."
Receiving a satisfactory reply, [Asakura Toru] smiled slightly, then waved her small hand at Kurokawa Akane beside him, and left the ward with the others.
Sitting to the side, Kurokawa Akane looked at that small box, then at the gentle expression on Michiya Gōshin's face. Although she minded it somewhat in her heart, her face did not show any strange expression.
"Asakura... she cares about you too, doesn't she?"
"Yes, and I'm very grateful to her."
Michiya Gōshin heard the sourness in Kurokawa Akane's words, but he just smiled helplessly and opened the box. Inside, sure enough, lay a charmingly naive, hand-painted white ceramic monkey, with a red ribbon tied around its neck. It looked very cute.
He handed this little monkey, along with the bracelet Kurokawa Akane had given him, to Kato Megumi nearby. After all, he was a patient now and needed his dressings changed, so he couldn't wear anything.
After the meal, Yamazaki Kento knew Kurokawa Akane wouldn't leave, so he took the initiative to say goodbye, planning to come see his good brother again tomorrow.
In the afternoon, Michiya Gōshin opened the laptop Kato Megumi handed him, intending to continue optimizing the script for We Made a Beautiful Bouquet.
He wanted to finish this story quickly and then bring it to the big screen.
Kurokawa Akane naturally didn't want to disturb him, so she stayed quietly by his side, while Kato Megumi continued handling work.
Devoting himself entirely to script creation, Michiya Gōshin's [Tireless Writer] entry experience points were also increasing ceaselessly.
[Production Queue 2: Tireless Writer]
[Experience: 23/100]
[Experience: 24/100]
[Experience: 25/100]
The crackling sound of the keyboard became the main melody in the ward.
We Made a Beautiful Bouquet is an excellent story. What is most moving about it is not the fading of love itself, but how truthfully it records the entire process of two souls going from a perfect match to quietly misaligned.
[Yamane Mugi] and [Hachiya Kinu]—their meeting was like a miracle made in heaven.
They both liked using movie ticket stubs as bookmarks, they both preferred natural sparkling water over artificial soda, and they both couldn't forget the performance of that obscure stage actor.
In the massive neon labyrinth of Tokyo, they found each other as their sole coordinate, as if the world existed for their resonance.
Love in the beginning is the ecstasy of sharing every discovery, the certainty of finding "another me in the world."
However, after living together, certain torrents will eventually wash away the romantic filter.
The turning point of the story is subtly and precisely reflected in their divergent views on "life" itself.
The male lead, [Yamane Mugi], starts running around for a livelihood. His brush no longer draws art, but lines for commercial illustrations. He squeezes into the exhausted evening rush hour trains, and the love for useless beauty that once sparkled in his eyes is gradually replaced by the anxiety of reality and the sense of responsibility to "become a reliable adult."
This is his growth. With different experiences, new ideas naturally emerge.
He believes that love is "living together," it is building a stable future, and the cornerstone of building a future is material substance.
On the other hand, [Hachiya Kinu], to some extent, remains in the utopia of love.
She still yearns to share those "useless" moments, yearns for late-night walks and impulsive movie trips.
[Hachiya Kinu] feels lost not because [Yamane Mugi] no longer loves her, but because she has lost the boy she originally fell in love with.
The love she cherishes is spiritual synchronization and resonance, the moments of "being understood."
This divergence is not a battle of right and wrong, but an inevitable fork in the road of individual growth trajectories.
[Yamane Mugi] has not become vulgar; he is simply trying to protect their future in the way he thinks is right. [Hachiya Kinu] is not out of touch with reality; she is just more stubbornly guarding the original intention that made them fall in love.
They both tried hard to draw closer to each other, yet they were like two rivers that briefly converged before rushing toward different estuaries.
The greatness of the story lies in allowing the audience to understand and empathize with the choices of both rivers simultaneously. The final silent farewell is the supreme tribute to that beautiful love.
They accepted its withering and finally let go, allowing each other to become that bouquet of flowers in their memories that would never fade.
"Kurokawa?"
The keyboard sound stopped. Michiya Gōshin was halfway through writing when he suddenly realized the girl beside him had been seriously watching the content on the screen.
"Eh! Michiya-kun?"
Recovering from the story, Kurokawa Akane's delicate face flushed red, and she hurriedly apologized, "Sorry, I just couldn't help but look at Michiya-kun's screen. Because this story is so attractive, I..."
"It's okay. I planned to show it to you anyway after finishing this story."
"Huh?"
Kurokawa Akane was greatly surprised, tilting her head to look into Michiya Gōshin's earnest eyes.
"I plan to hand this script to [Suo]-san and make it into a movie," Michiya Gōshin said slowly. "I haven't told you this before, Kurokawa, but I hope you can become the female lead in the story."
As soon as these words came out, Kurokawa Akane froze in place. She completely hadn't expected Michiya Gōshin to have prepared such a "surprise."
"Why me?"
The girl took a deep breath, looking straight into Michiya Gōshin's eyes, as if wanting to see the real answer within them.
"Have you thought it through clearly, Michiya-kun?"
This sentence was a rhetorical question, and also the key for Kurokawa Akane to confirm Michiya Gōshin's feelings.
Michiya Gōshin was silent for a moment, then let out a breath, his tone suddenly becoming serious.
"Kurokawa."
Michiya Gōshin's voice was low and gentle, sounding as if he were narrating a story.
"Do you remember the first question when participating in the dating show?"
"I remember."
Kurokawa Akane nodded. "I chose 'love grows over time' and 'attraction'."
"That's right, but I feel that actually, the time we've known each other really isn't considered long," Michiya Gōshin tugged at the corner of his mouth, smiling faintly. "Compared to thoughts generated by some accidental events, I also need to let myself see my own heart clearly."
"Michiya-kun means..."
Kurokawa Akane knew what he was saying. This might be a critical conversation, directly concerning how the relationship between the two of them should proceed.
"There are some things I may not have completely thought through right now, and I can't give a definite answer."
Michiya Gōshin spoke slowly. "This movie script is a very suitable opportunity. [Suo]-san wants me to play the male lead..."
"Really?"
Kurokawa Akane's eyes suddenly lit up, like a green meadow swept by a strong wind, glowing with a bright light.
"Yes. Once this movie is finished, I think we will both be able to see some things more clearly, including... the answers belonging to our own hearts."
Michiya Gōshin smiled gently. He was actually also thinking about how his relationship with Kurokawa Akane should develop. She was completely focused on him; if he just kept dragging it out, that certainly wouldn't do.
But if he directly accepted it with the flow, it actually wouldn't be fair to Kurokawa Akane.
He hadn't clearly responded to her feelings yet, so he needed an opportunity suitable for both of them.
These words were not a clear response, yet they contained more possibilities than a direct rejection or acceptance.
Like a seed, quietly planted, waiting for future nourishment and growth.
After hearing these words, Kurokawa Akane stared blankly at Michiya Gōshin. After a while, she understood his meaning.
He was not indifferent to her.
It was just that the current situation made it difficult for him to make promises lightly. Their future required a lot of paving. Their choices were exactly the same—"love grows over time." The scale of this "time" was the key to truly walking to the step of harvest.
This was a euphemistic delay, but also an agreement full of hope.
Thus, a more beautiful, gentle smile slowly bloomed on Kurokawa Akane's face. That smile dispelled the uneasiness and probing in her heart from before, becoming pure and bright.
"I understand."
She said softly, "I will work hard to interpret this script, Michiya-kun. I will also wait for your answer."
"That's good."
Michiya Gōshin also nodded.
"Then for the next two months, I will be taking care of you constantly, Michiya-kun."
"...Alright then."
Between the two of them, an indescribable atmosphere gradually permeated the air.
Next to them, Kato Megumi glanced at her phone, suddenly remembering Sakurajima Mai, who had stayed by Michiya Gōshin's bedside with her last night.
Their relationships might become increasingly complex.
________________________________________
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