Ever since she drew the gummy that could make skin more delicate, Haruko hadn't eaten it.
She wanted to save it for Ichiko, so at a certain point, she could become even more perfect.
"Plans can't keep up with changes."
Haruko threw the candy into her mouth, then picked up a mirror from the counter.
The change was instantaneous. Under the warm glow of the lights, her skin seemed to have more luster.
She reached out and touched her arm.
Silky, tender, fair, and delicate.
Taking a photo would probably make people think she used a beauty filter.
Haruko then reached out and touched her lips. From the sensation transmitted through her fingertips, she felt there was no change.
"But all of this, let Ichiko experience it~"
"For you to like me more, I am willing to become more perfect."
The strange glint in Haruko's pupils flashed and disappeared. She lowered her head and looked at the time; only five minutes had passed.
[Host, isn't there a guest room next door with a private bathroom? Isn't that room better? It's very inconvenient for the female lead Ichiko to shower like this now, and it's also troublesome for you. Isn't this putting the cart before the horse?]
"A private bathroom won't work." Since Haruko was doing this, she naturally had her own plans.
So she patiently explained to the System, "In my plan, I can't let Ichiko touch water that I haven't touched alone. Moreover, although my room has been cleaned, the layout hasn't changed, which can effectively evoke her beautiful memories from the past."
"The process of learning is the growth of knowledge. I went from being a stupid person who scored zero to an extremist who scores sixty points. Only when she realizes that I can no longer become stupid will she accept my current growth."
"When she is willing to actively teach me to study, the plan will be half successful."
[This... only half?]
"Otherwise?" Haruko's eyes were deep, and her tone was excited, "I love her wholeheartedly, and she should also love me wholeheartedly!"
With that, Haruko looked at the time again.
15 minutes had passed.
The time given for showering was half an hour.
She got up, walked over, and knocked on the door. "Ichiko, half an hour is up. I'm coming in~"
"Wait a minute!"
Through the crack in the door, she could hear the rustling sound of clothes being put on.
After a while longer, a hesitant voice finally came from inside, "Okay... okay."
The corner of Haruko's lips curved up, and she opened the door.
Seeing the bear T-shirt Ichiko was wearing, she couldn't help but show a happy, silly smile. "We're wearing the same thing, it's like couple's clothes~"
Upon hearing this, Ichiko's smile gradually faded.
These were clothes she found in the closet. When they used to live together, she had left three sets of clothes here.
They were bought together with Haruko back then.
The same style, the same color, bought two at a time. It was originally proof of their good relationship, but at this moment, it was misunderstood as couple's clothes.
Was this a boomerang from the past hitting herself?
While she was lost in thought, Haruko had already finished dealing with the floor with a mop. After returning, she sat in front of Ichiko and looked at her with a smile, "So, Ichiko, what do you want to talk about?"
Ichiko suppressed the thoughts in her heart, sat up straight, and looked at her. "Haruko, why... why did you do this?"
Haruko tilted her head in confusion. "Why this way... Because Ichiko is sick, I'm taking care of Ichiko."
"I'm not sick!" Ichiko emphasized the words. "You're the one who's sick, Haruko. Besides, you've put me here to take care of me, and people outside will be looking for me. This is very likely to cause trouble. You should let me go out."
"It's okay." Haruko shook her head indifferently. "As long as I can be with Ichiko, anything is fine. Even if Sento comes looking..."
Suddenly, Haruko's eyes glowed red. "At worst, I'll take him down with me!"
With that, she looked at Ichiko obsessively. "Ichiko, don't worry, I will never let him hurt you~"
The person who will be hurt is you!
Ichiko was anxious inside, but she also understood that even if Haruko could communicate, it was limited to ordinary topics.
Once she mentioned herself, or Sento and others, she would become paranoid, and nothing she said would work.
Ichiko was a little anxious. "Then if I'm sick and you're taking care of me, how can I get better and be discharged from the hospital?"
"Ichiko has a heart ailment, it needs to be treated." Haruko's smile didn't fade. "Naturally, when Ichiko falls in love with me, she can be discharged from the hospital!"
"Presently, Ichiko has a good impression of Sento, right?"
"That won't do."
"Presently, Ichiko doesn't like me at all, right?"
"There's nothing to be done. Ichiko used to like me so much, and now she says she has a good impression of Sento. She's very sick~"
"Ichiko!" Haruko's tone gradually became pathological, revealing her cute little fangs full of aggression. "You can only like me alone!"
"Oh dear, it seems I got excited again." Haruko seemed to realize something, returning to normal, her bared little fangs transforming from aggressive to subtly cute.
Ichiko saw all of this and felt very uncomfortable inside.
She was truly a yandere.
Communication... completely ineffective.
A feeling of helplessness surged in her heart. Ichiko looked up, but her peripheral vision caught a glimpse of Haruko's cute little face.
How long had she been kept here?
How long had she slept?
Judging by her fatigue upon waking up, it should have been two days, right?
What was happening outside? Had Doctor Cheng, Yuri, and Shin, the three people who knew the truth, already used their own channels to find her?
There was only one course of action now!
Ichiko clenched her fists.
She still hadn't recovered much strength, but subduing the weak Haruko should be possible.
Ichiko secretly assessed the completely harmless Haruko. Her arms were delicate and fair, looking like they lacked strength.
She could give it a try.
But—
Failure would further provoke Haruko!
Ichiko's eyes gradually became firm.
Would she win?
In a flash, Ichiko suddenly made a move, her hand abruptly reaching for Haruko's shoulder to grab it!
However, Haruko merely tilted her head, easily catching Ichiko's hand.
She pushed back, naturally pressing Ichiko onto the bed.
It was a guaranteed loss.
Her disheveled hair was scattered, and Ichiko's eyes were full of astonishment.
Haruko's smile was as if everything was under control. "Ichiko is really naughty. Didn't I tell you? I tried it, and this little thing can help you regulate your body very well. Why are you still trying to use force when you're sick?"
Her expression gradually froze.
Her head stiffly tilted to the side, her eyes looking at the desktop in horror.
Ichiko: "That incense burner..."
Haruko smiled, everything left unsaid.
"How does a doctor treat a disobedient patient?"
...
A line of clear tears slowly flowed down Ichiko's cheek.
Even though she resisted intensely in her heart, Ichiko herself didn't notice that the human body is miraculous precisely because it cannot be fully controlled.
Her breathing and heartbeat gradually accelerated.
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