No… that's not right.
If this situation continues for another three days, no one would be able to accept it, right?
Watching Haruko select ingredients, Ichiko swallowed, cautiously speaking, "Haruko, it's the middle of winter, why are you putting things in the refrigerator?"
Haruko turned her head in confusion, "Is that not allowed?"
Ichiko: "…"
Of course not!
Why would you choose to eat ice in the middle of winter?!
That's completely abnormal!
So she cautiously said, "Haruko, how about we just forget about this? Although… although it's great, eating ice in winter is bad for your health."
"Also, it's too sweet. Eating too much fruit isn't good. We should just eat normally in moderation… just have regular meals, how does that sound?"
Haruko pouted, "Does Ichiko not like it very much?"
"It's… it's not that I don't like it, but how should I say it? It's just…"
Ichiko tried hard to organize her words, but couldn't think of a way to prevent Haruko from turning dark.
Unexpectedly, Haruko proactively suggested, "If Ichiko doesn't like it very much, you can just say so. How about we switch to something else?"
Ichiko's eyes lit up, "Yes, yes, yes, switch to something else."
Haruko blinked, then pulled out a bottle of white wine, "How about this? It can warm you up in winter."
Ichiko: "…"
Drinking is even worse!
Ichiko lightly coughed, "Actually, I think I should handle the food planning for the next few days. After all, Haruko isn't good at cooking, I'll make sure Haruko can enjoy delicious food myself."
Yes, as long as I cook myself, I can avoid the situation from last time!
Haruko smiled, "Okay, but if it's not delicious, Ichiko will have to accept a punishment~"
The eerie smile once again made Ichiko feel a sense of unease.
She got goosebumps, but they quickly disappeared with a breath.
For dinner, they chose a combination of steamed ribs, winter melon soup, and green vegetables, naturally cooked by Ichiko.
And this made Ichiko breathe a sigh of relief.
After all, what she made herself tasted first-class.
Haruko was also very well-behaved during the meal, even cooperating with Ichiko for a feeding session.
But the more obedient she was, the more a trace of worry lingered in Ichiko's heart.
After dinner.
Haruko looked at her with a smile, "Ichiko, do you like me?"
"Uh…" Ichiko sat on the sofa, her hands restlessly placed on her lap, giving Haruko a heads-up, "Haruko, you know, I've always liked you, it's just… you don't need to keep asking like this."
"Mm-hmm, I know."
"Okay."
Ichiko exhaled, closed her eyes, and sighed.
The pressure from Haruko is still so great.
But thankfully, she was prepared.
On the table was a bowl of medicinal soup brewed from traditional Chinese medicine. Just smelling it told her it was incredibly bitter. This was the traditional Chinese medicine Professor Su had prepared for her to regulate her body.
One bowl every day.
The pressure from Haruko was immense.
But she could use other methods to make herself ignore that strangeness.
This was psychological self-protection, which in turn reflected physically.
She would rather drink this extremely bitter medicinal soup than endure the pressure!
She immediately picked up another bowl of bitter medicinal soup from the table and gulped it down.
Disgusting tastes mixed together.
She frowned in pain, the faint bitterness lingering on her tongue, wanting to quickly dispel it with air.
Haruko leaned in close to her and softly asked, "Is it very bitter?"
Ichiko didn't open her eyes and nodded.
"Then…"
Haruko pursed her lips and smiled. After peeling a candy, she leaned in.
Bitterness ends.
Sweetness comes.
After a long time, Haruko curled the corners of her lips, touched her finger to her lips, and smiled as she softly asked, "Is it sweet?"
"Sweet."
"Then… do you like it?"
Ichiko froze, her previously tense body suddenly relaxing.
She smiled faintly and nodded, "I like it."
This time it was the truth, not a pretense.
She had indeed become somewhat infatuated with the taste.
And undeniably, this was a great way to relieve stress.
Her whole being would soften because of it.
Girls are truly wonderful.
Ichiko couldn't help but add in her heart: Haruko, although liking you is my lie, only this time.
Only your sweetness.
My liking.
Is not a lie.
And this girl's way of comforting people is really…
Ichiko watched Haruko shake her head with a light hum on the side, sighing helplessly.
It's truly hard to describe.
Although today was a bit nerve-wracking, she had clearly overthought things. Haruko was actually quite well-behaved, wasn't she?
Uh… yes, well-behaved.
Although that word now sounded rather intimidating, today was the night before the three days officially began, and nothing unexpected happened, right?
She had completely overthought it.
Returning to the room at night, Ichiko found that apart from a change to opaque curtains, the overall room hadn't changed.
It was just that the floor was also covered with a carpet.
Rather, the entire house had been covered with carpets by Haruko.
This also made Ichiko curious.
She lowered her head, her fair feet on tiptoe, her fingers lightly twisting the carpet.
The texture was very comfortable, and it must have been expensive to buy.
Where did the money come from?
Could it be Yuna Ge?
While Ichiko was guessing, Haruko was already lying in bed, pulling back half the covers, "Ichiko, come to bed. Tonight, are you holding me, or am I holding you?"
"It's the same, isn't it?"
Ichiko smiled and slipped into the covers filled with Haruko's scent.
It was a scent she was infatuated with again.
The scent of the sachet was the scent of Haruko.
And having gotten used to sleeping with the sachet, without that scent, Ichiko couldn't fall asleep as quickly.
Yes, habit.
This is something that, once formed, is difficult to change.
Haruko was using various methods, step by step, to subtly guide Ichiko, making her get used to her, and then unable to leave her.
"Ichiko, what's wrong?"
In the covers, feeling the softness of the person in her arms, Ichiko smiled and softly replied, "Nothing, let's sleep."
Tomorrow, and even the day after and the day after, three days of such warmth.
Haruko won't force herself to drink that fruit pulp orange juice either, but said she would switch to a different drink.
It seems like everything is heading in a good direction.
At least, until breakfast the next day, Ichiko thought so.
And she didn't know.
This warmth was just the calm before the storm.
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