Haruko herself is very cute.
It's just that other than passersby, everyone who looks at her sees her through a slight filter.
It's like Ichiko; growing up together, how could she not know Haruko's appearance?
She was just used to it, always viewing things from the perspective of an older sister, taking her cute appearance for granted and seeing her cute behavior as clumsy.
But under Haruko's subtle influence during this time, the cuteness she now perceives...
...is the kind that belongs uniquely to girls.
It's a perspective detached from her "older sister" identity.
At this moment, even Ichiko herself didn't feel it, but her heart had been stirred.
Looking away, Ichiko gently pushed Haruko out of her arms. Feeling a little flustered, she sought a point of escape. "Ne-next time, Haruko, don't say that. How could I ever bear to treat you like a pet? You'll always be my good younger sister."
Haruko blinked, then tapped her finger on her lips again, asking with a grin, "Is it really just a good younger sister?"
Or rather, after all this, can I still be a "good younger sister"?
"Me? I'm very greedy~"
Haruko came before Ichiko again, burrowing into her arms.
Ichiko was just about to say something when Haruko pressed a finger to her lips. "Ichiko, don't talk. Can I sleep in your arms for a while?"
"Haruko..."
"I can feel it, you know." Haruko hugged Ichiko tightly, her voice soft. "Ichiko, you already like me a little in your heart, right? The way you look at me is different now. When I wake up, Ichiko can be discharged~"
"Discharged..."
Ichiko murmured these two words.
Does being discharged mean I can leave this place?
I don't remember how long it's been, but it should be about a week, right?
In just one week, I fell for Haruko?
Ichiko felt the warmth in her arms, her expression complex.
No, perhaps it's been more than a week.
And I didn't fall for Haruko.
I was just pretending to like her.
She was tricked by me.
That's why she said such things.
Let's sleep. When I wake up, everything will go back to normal.
Ichiko hugged the small body and lay on the bed together, closing her eyes to sleep, but she couldn't fall asleep no matter what.
The sentence Haruko said kept lingering in her mind.
-- You already like me, oh~
Even if it was just a little bit.
When a person realizes something that is distinctly different from their inner feelings and they dare not accept it, they will think about it constantly and try to justify themselves.
This is all protection from the subconscious.
In reality, Haruko was even clearer about this than Ichiko herself.
Of course, there wasn't much liking; at most, there was some goodwill.
The drastic contrast from being sick for several days to suddenly becoming obedient and cute now impacted Ichiko's heart and misled her feelings.
And at this point, Haruko only needed to provide a little guidance.
She could make Ichiko further misunderstand herself.
She would keep thinking about this, constantly denying it in her heart, and over time, the image of Haruko in her mind would never fade away.
No need for Cinderella's handkerchief.
She achieved this effect too!
The incense burner with the muscle relaxant was still working, but the room door was open.
Ichiko desperately wanted to get out of here. Right now, she just wanted to get her phone and see what had happened outside during this past week or so.
Why did no one come looking for her?
It was fine if Dr. Kaito didn't know her actual situation.
What about Shin?
What about Yuri?
After Sento returned, he should also look for her, right?
Why has there been no activity for so many days?
But noticing Haruko, who seemed to be sound asleep in her arms, her anxious heart slowly calmed down again.
Haruko must have been very tired these past few days, right?
Haruko's voice just now wasn't as energetic as usual.
And the food... Ichiko suppressed the discomfort in her heart and gradually analyzed it.
Taking drinking water as an example, anything fed to her through Haruko's small mouth not only didn't change in taste but even had an enticing sweetness.
This also proved that her, Ichiko's, sense of taste wasn't broken.
Those strange, rotten-tasting things might just be dark cuisine specially made by outside vendors.
But why is this? Is Haruko hinting in this way that she is actually the most wonderful one?
Seeing Haruko asleep, Ichiko couldn't help but touch her head.
But after reaching out, she felt a little scared again.
Yandere love is a bit too heavy and extreme.
But can she blame Haruko?
Ichiko gave a bitter smile.
If she hadn't tested her, this wouldn't have happened, right?
Even though she knew she was a yandere, she still couldn't believe it in her heart and even used Sento to provoke her.
Now that this has happened, it's all her own doing.
She also caused Haruko to enter a yandere state and harm her already frail body.
In her self-reproach, Ichiko's embrace around Haruko became even gentler.
If Haruko knew that Ichiko attributed all the responsibility to herself, she would surely sigh again.
This is the female lead of the White Moonlight type!
Just being by her side makes people fall for her without realizing it.
So, to keep her from attracting others, she must be firmly locked by my side~
Sunlight streamed down outside the window, but it couldn't penetrate the gaps in the window. Inside the room, the lights were off, and it was still completely dark.
Ichiko slept, woke, woke, slept.
But she found that it never reached the next day.
Her drowsy mind became even more fatigued.
Every minute, every second, was utter torment.
The only comfort was the soft warmth in her arms, and the occasional light snoring by her ear dispelling her oppression.
Haruko silently told her: No matter when, I will always be by your side.
The darkness, it seemed, was no longer so terrifying.
After an unknown amount of time, Haruko, who was resting in Ichiko's arms, finally woke up slowly.
She sat up and rubbed her sleepy eyes. "What time is it? Ichiko, why didn't you wake me up?"
When she overslept and was almost late for high school, she also said this.
Every action, every plain word, seemed to evoke memories in her heart.
Ichiko turned on the light nearby. "I don't know what time it is either, but it should be morning, right?"
"Oh right." Haruko reacted, taking Ichiko's hand and walking towards the door. "Since Ichiko is better now, you can be discharged."
Like a bird that had been trapped, she finally saw the dawn of freedom.
Ichiko's steps were heavy yet expectant. The moment she stepped out of the room, a blinding ray of sunlight made her almost unable to open her eyes.
The Yu Hui reflected from the window glass gradually faded. Only then did Ichiko squint her eyes and walk to the window.
The rosy glow spread like flames, dyeing the clouds red.
Was that the morning sun?
Or the setting sun?
Yu Hui shone on her face. The warm light intertwined with dark memories. Ichiko, feeling confused, picked up the phone that Haruko had already placed on the table.
"The time..."
Less than three days have passed?!
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