Regarding the original owner Haruko's reputation, it was extremely polarized in the original work.
Some readers believed that the original owner deserved to die for all the awful things she did in the early stages, and that the later whitewashing was purely due to the author having problems with their brain.
After all, for money, the original author ruined the entire work, so writing some garbage at the end was normal.
But there were also some readers who were purely Ichiko fans.
It's undeniable that "Cannon Fodder Female Supporting Characters All Killed, All Male Gods Enter My Embrace" is a bad work, and the author ruined the entire book for money.
But in terms of plot connection, the author's writing skill was still present.
It's just that from Ichiko's perspective, she was loved by many people in the early stage, felt lost and pained in the middle stage, and was betrayed by everyone competing for her in the later stage.
If this novel is seen as Ichiko's tragic life, rather than the author bowing down for money, the resonance and love for Ichiko will only be deeper.
The character of the original owner Haruko, although she died in the early stage, often appeared in Ichiko's memories, serving as Ichiko's spiritual pillar, alleviating her pain time and time again after being betrayed.
—If I die like this, how can I face Haruko in the afterlife?
—I killed her, I killed Yuna Ge, I should carry everything she had and live on, using my entire life to regret, to repay, to complete everything she wanted to do while alive.
It was precisely because of these descriptions that in the final montage, Ichiko's independent thinking and the original owner Haruko's whitewashing seemed much more normal.
Even if she was just a cannon fodder villain, the name "Haruko" accompanied Ichiko throughout the entire 4 million words of the text.
Ichiko's final despair was only because of a dream she had when she was on her last breath.
It was the inner demon that had Entanglement her for many years.
The original owner Haruko, who had already died, appeared in the dream, apologized to her, forgave her, and confessed to her.
—Ichiko, you are not unloved, you still have me. If we could start over, I would, I would definitely fill your surroundings with love, I would never let anyone bully you again!
The dream ended.
Ichiko felt that even if she couldn't be forgiven, dying might allow her to repay the mistakes she made to the original owner Haruko in the afterlife.
The dripping tears wet the photo she held tightly even in her sleep.
Ichiko hugged the photo tightly in her arms.
"I'm sorry."
It was unclear if it was Ichiko's apology to the original owner Haruko.
Or the novel author's apology to the vast number of readers.
With this final sentence as the conclusion, Ichiko committed suicide.
The novel ended.
There were no extras, no epilogue, and no second part released to milk the IP for money.
The author turned all suspense into blank space, allowing readers to discuss.
Haruko's mind went over the plot she currently knew again, bringing the topic back to the present, "Kai, that's why I said, Ichiko won't collapse so easily. As long as she still has me in her heart, she will eventually stand up again after her confusion."
Haruko's lips curved into a playful smile, "Ichiko still wants to cure my yandere and return to how things were before, so how could she collapse like this?"
"But I'm not a yandere, there's nothing to cure, which is a difficult problem to solve."
Haruko looked at the sleeping Ichiko, already understanding why Ichiko was like this.
"She's just escaping right now, because my method of self-harm to frame Sento and thus tie her to my side was too extreme, it washed away her understanding of me, and therefore she feels scared of me."
"She's worried that I will use the same method to harm others around her, forcing her to make choices again and again, and even harming myself with it."
"She's afraid of making choices, and she doesn't dare to accept the fact that I'm a yandere. Even though I've been guiding her as Dr. Kaito, she still hasn't changed the idea in her heart that she wants to cure me."
"But that won't do~"
Haruko looked at the surveillance footage on her phone. Ichiko was sleeping soundly holding the giant panda, and after putting down all her burdens and choosing to escape, she slept very peacefully even without the sachet nearby.
Unconsciously, Haruko's eyes became a little infatuated as she looked at Ichiko, "Ichiko can't be afraid of me. If she's afraid of me, how can she like me? If she doesn't take the first step, there will never be any progress."
"Even if she's forced, she must actively accept me!"
This was the most important part for Haruko!
The date this morning had already shown initial results. After a day, she was confident that she could make Ichiko fall into her gentle trap.
To make her have the thought that "Although Haruko is a bit of a yandere, being by her side is truly happy and fulfilling."
And because of this goal.
During this time, Haruko put pressure on Ichiko every moment.
When she gradually couldn't breathe, she would naturally discover that Haruko's embrace was the only place where she could relieve stress and relax.
Thus, she would like and cherish it.
Just like in the dark room.
Everything was so strange, so eerie and abnormal.
Only her cuteness was the sweetness that distinguished her from everything else.
Then she would pursue it, reach out and grasp it, and then begin to enjoy it.
But Sento's appearance disrupted all of Haruko's plans and preparations!
The soft approach was no longer viable.
Ichiko, if you keep escaping like this, when will you finally like me?
And when can we be together?
The pressure is not enough.
Haruko lay in the Hospital bed, just waiting for time to pass slowly.
After dealing with the Doctor, she also dealt with Inari and her brother who took time out of their busy schedules to care for her.
Ichiko, who had slept for a full 10 hours from noon until late at night, slowly woke up.
Prolonged sleepiness doesn't make one feel energized, but rather makes them more tired and listless in the short term.
Ichiko was like this, feeling dizzy and having a stuffy pain in her chest.
After recovering for a while, although she still felt tired, she no longer had the struggle and pain she had before sleeping.
Ichiko looked at the giant panda plush pillow she was still holding, and said with a smile, "Giant panda, giant panda, you are even softer than Haruko."
Saying that, she nudged the giant panda's belly with her face again.
But after saying this sentence, Ichiko couldn't help but pause again.
Haruko...
She was still in the Hospital.
Memories flooded back like a tide.
Self-harm, lure, Sento's betrayal, choice.
Scene after scene flashed by, making Ichiko reveal a pained expression again.
But when she looked up again, her expression held a hint of retreat.
How about, just let things take their course?
As soon as this thought arose, the phone rang in the living room outside.
A bad premonition grew in Ichiko's heart.
She walked out and looked at the caller ID.
She let out a light sigh of relief.
The call was from Mother Chi.
She really didn't want to face Haruko right now, and even less did she want to think about anything related to Haruko's yandere tendencies.
This matter seemed to have been hidden deep in her heart.
Facing Mother Chi, Ichiko showed a relaxed smile, "Hello, Auntie, good evening."
The call connected, and Haruko, in the Hospital, listened to the voice coming from the phone, her lips curving.
The voice acting skill was activated.
Mimicking her mother's old and anxious voice, it slowly sounded in Ichiko's ear, "That's great, Ichiko, your call went through."
"Um, Ichiko, is Haruko not with you? I can't get through to her phone no matter what."
"Where is Haruko... where is she?"
The old and kind voice in her ear once again evoked beautiful childhood memories.
But that beauty had now become pressure.
Is Haruko not with you?
Did you, as her older sister, not take good care of her?
I entrusted her to you before letting her come to Kyushu City to study with you.
Or are you saying, Ichiko... you don't want her anymore?
The suffocating feeling, like being submerged in water, returned.
It was as if Haruko's voice, full of love, echoed in her ear: Ichiko, you can't escape~
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