When people anticipate their imminent death, they often feel panic, fear, and lingering apprehension, much like standing atop a skyscraper and looking down.
In the distance is an unparalleled view.
But when they lower their heads and look down, most people are startled by the height, leading them to imagine what it would be like if they were to fall.
They then instinctively take a step back for self-preservation, feeling lingering fear.
Haruko possessed the Pain Reduction skill. In the past, even self-inflicted wounds, which would be unbearable pain for ordinary people, she could grit her teeth and endure.
She could even use Intermediate Acting to feign a sickly appearance.
When one truly experiences death once, their mindset also changes.
Haruko had thought she could get through it as usual and complete her feigned death plan, but as her body truly grew colder little by little, she couldn't help but feel regret and fear in her heart.
Her body temperature dropped little by little, the sense of weightlessness intensified, her survival instinct urged her to struggle, but her body's weakness prevented her from acting.
Just like that, she felt her life draining away little by little.
Even with the Substitute Straw Doll and the System as a safety net.
Even though this was part of the plan.
In the very end, submerged in the ice-cold water near zero degrees, Haruko was still afraid.
She was afraid that if her feigned death coma lasted too long, Ichiko might be taken away by a protagonist like Murasaki.
She was afraid that the world will would completely alter Ichiko's plotline during the time she was absent.
She was afraid that the girl she liked would cry too sadly, and that guilt and regret would far outweigh the affection that came later.
Would the sachet she left behind be useful?
Man proposes, God disposes.
Haruko had only made her plan, but she wasn't certain if she could truly guide Ichiko to change in the way she wanted.
However, through this feigned death, she should cherish me more, right?
She will definitely regret not accepting my confession, right?
She will definitely also focus her attention on me like before, instead of thinking she doesn't need to bother with me just because I'm well-behaved, right?
But unfortunately...
"Did the feigned death plan fail?"
Haruko lay in the hospital bed, opening her eyes with great difficulty. Her weak state made even thinking somewhat difficult.
Just glancing sideways and seeing the girl standing at the door, covering her nose and tearing up with emotion, she almost subconsciously opened her mouth and called out two words: "Ichiko..."
Her voice was very hoarse, others couldn't even hear it; at most, they could only see her opening her eyes with difficulty and her lips moving slightly.
Even so, Ichiko still saw Haruko's lip movements clearly.
Ichiko.
The first thing on her mind upon waking was still her.
Ichiko quickly turned her head and shouted outside, "Wang Doctor, Haruko is awake, Haruko is awake!"
Haruko withdrew her gaze and gently closed her eyes again.
Her consciousness gradually recovered, and she asked in her mind, "System, are you still there?"
[Present, Host]
The System's voice still showed no emotion, but a clear sense of relief could be felt.
"How long was I unconscious?"
Haruko continued to ask, "And what's the situation now?"
[The Host was only unconscious for one night. The feigned death failed, and you were saved by the Doctor. The Substitute Straw Doll was not activated.]
"It turned out like this..."
Haruko wasn't a medical student after all, so she really didn't anticipate such a failure.
Her knowledge of such things was limited to knowing that biting off one's tongue to commit suicide actually meant choking on the blood that surged out.
Rather than truly dying from pain or instantly dying from biting off a piece of the tongue.
Haruko opened her eyes again and glanced at Ichiko, who had brought the Doctor.
She thought to herself: Would it be better to pretend to have amnesia?
Unfortunately, she had almost subconsciously called out the two words "Ichiko" just now.
When her body was hidden in the bathtub and the endless cold was eroding her, Haruko could only force herself to endure by repeating the words "Ichiko".
Facing death directly is truly not something ordinary people can do.
The attending physician, Wang Doctor, examined Haruko and then asked softly, "Miss Chi, how do you feel now? If you can hear me clearly, blink twice."
Haruko wanted to open her mouth to answer, but found she couldn't make a sound.
So she obediently blinked twice.
Wang Doctor then opened his hand, extended three fingers, and asked, "How many is this?"
Haruko blinked three times again.
However, even the process of blinking was slowly starting to become a little difficult.
Inari also rushed over, mimicking the gesture by extending his thumb and little finger while curling the others, making a "six" sign, and asked, "Haruko, how many is this for me?"
Hearing this, Haruko rolled her eyes with great difficulty and then closed her eyes again to rest.
Inari stared blankly at Wang Doctor, "Doctor, is Haruko's condition not very good?"
Wang Doctor also gave Inari a roll of the eyes, "She means you're being silly. Young Master, you should wait outside."
Seeing that Haruko still had the energy to joke, the others also relaxed.
However, lying in bed unable to move or speak, with almost no color in her face and looking extremely weak, made Ichiko's heart ache immensely.
She reached both hands under the covers and held Haruko's slightly cold small hand.
Regardless of whether Haruko heard her, she murmured to herself, "Haruko, I'm really sorry. You must listen to the Doctor and keep going with the treatment, okay? When you recover, I'll agree to any condition, any request you have, okay?"
Ichiko was truly scared.
Not only was she afraid of Haruko's morbid and twisted love.
She was even more afraid that Haruko would give up treatment and leave her forever.
She herself had thoughts of ending her life; if Haruko refused treatment now, there would truly be no way at all.
For this reason...
Let the confession be a confession then.
Let the agreement be an agreement then.
It's better for Haruko to stick obediently by her side than to send everyone to the other side of the Styx as in her dream.
As if confessing her guilt and regret, Ichiko held Haruko's small hand, trying her best to transfer a little warmth to her.
But she didn't notice that Haruko, who had closed her eyes to rest, had the slightest curve at the corner of her lips.
Although the feigned death wasn't successful.
But... it wasn't completely meaningless either.
Hey, Ichiko.
Since you said something like that, I really won't let go of your hand, you know.
A brief morning passed, and Haruko was still resting.
Ichiko also stayed for a long time. When she got up, she almost stumbled and fell. The thought that had kept her going gradually faded, and after enduring for so long, she finally collapsed.
Even with her superhuman physique, the delayed cold and fever still caused her to be admitted to the room next to Haruko's.
Considering that Haruko also had the psychological illness of schizophrenia, in addition to the consideration of her suicidal tendencies, Inari invited an even more skilled medical Professor to come for treatment.
This Professor was not as kind as Doctor.
After examining Haruko's condition, he came to Ichiko's room and immediately started scolding, "I've heard about the situation from a few Doctors. You're Miss Chi's older sister, right? How do you think you're being a parent?"
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