No matter how she called out, how she cried, the person sleeping quietly on the Hospital bed still did not wake up.
Gently covering that layer of quilt, the instruments attached to her body seemed to mock her powerlessness.
The person was already dead, but they had to continue trying to maintain that illusory life.
It was ridiculous.
So ridiculous that Ichiko also had to hope like this, hoping that these cold instruments could bring her back to life.
Tears were useless, pleading was fruitless.
Regret had already filled her heart.
Ichiko sat silently by Haruko's bed for half a day.
Motionless like a lifeless doll.
It wasn't until after 12 o'clock noon that Ichiko slowly got up and gently tucked Haruko's little hand back into the quilt.
In her despairing eyes, there was confusion.
She had to accept reality.
Accept the reality that Haruko died for her.
But if she left the Hospital, wouldn't she leave Haruko alone in the Hospital again?
Ichiko walked out of the ward and saw Inari sitting on the bench outside with his legs crossed, dozing with his eyes closed.
Clearly, he had been waiting here for a long time.
Hearing Ichiko's footsteps, Inari opened his eyes and looked her up and down, "Have you regained your ability to think?"
Ichiko pursed her lips and nodded slightly, "I'm sorry."
Inari stood up helplessly, "You don't need to apologize. After all, you and Haruko are both my friends. You only show that vulnerable side of yourself in front of Haruko. Your current actions are all within the expectations of Professor Su and me, right?"
"I just feel very uncomfortable."
"Even if you're uncomfortable, you have to look forward. Now you should live with Haruko's will, instead of wasting away."
Ichiko tried to squeeze out a smile, but her lips trembled and she couldn't manage it. Instead, she asked, "When will Haruko be cremated?"
"?"
Inari gave her a strange look.
Ichiko bit her lip and said, "Even if it has come to this, I... I don't want Haruko to be alone. I want, at least... at least keep her ashes by my side, so she won't be so lonely."
And I won't be so lonely.
But what Ichiko didn't expect was that when she said this, Inari's eyes became even stranger.
She couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong?"
"No, nothing."
Inari thought for a moment, but still didn't reveal Professor Su's speculation.
Two days had passed since Haruko's departure.
Under normal circumstances, after a person dies, as the body temperature gradually decreases, the skin color will also become pale or bluish-purple. Due to the effect of gravity on blood, it will accumulate in the lower part of the body, resulting in what we commonly call "lividity."
If no preservation treatment is done, the body will also begin to stiffen, and the bacteria and enzymes in the body will begin to decompose tissues, resulting in obvious changes in odor.
This is just a small part of the changes that can be seen on the outside, not to mention the inside of the body.
But the strange thing is, Haruko had been dead for two days.
Apart from a drop in body temperature, there were no other symptoms of "corpse transformation." Although her heart had stopped and the electrocardiogram was a straight line, the cells in her body were still active.
It was as if there was a mysterious force repairing this damaged body.
If she were cremated immediately, there would be no possibility of a miracle happening.
However, this matter, it was enough for him and Professor Su to know. Before it was confirmed, there was no need to give Ichiko extra hope.
Excessively high hope, once faced with despair again, might not be as simple as the current breakdown.
Just like now, let her gradually adapt to reality.
Inari coughed lightly and explained, "Although I understand your feelings, there's really no need to cremate so quickly. Haruko's parents are old and in poor health, and cannot withstand such a mental blow."
"At least for this period of time, we can cover it up by saying Haruko is sick."
"We will temporarily keep the body here and preserve it perfectly with the highest technology, don't worry."
After Inari finished speaking, he turned to look at Ichiko and found that she was starting to cry again.
Ichiko clenched her fists and punched her left shoulder hard, "I... I'm sorry to Uncle and Auntie...Woo..."
The memory returned to a certain night.
Facing the yandere Haruko, she wanted to escape her yandere nature and abandon her.
It was also that night that Mother Chi called, asked about Haruko's situation, and then entrusted Haruko to her with great reassurance.
She even hinted that even if she and Haruko were together, becoming a romantic relationship between two girls, she had no objection.
Mother Chi had asked her to take care of Haruko not just during her time studying in Kyushu City, but possibly for the rest of Haruko's life!
All sorts of emotions surged into her heart again. This time, she felt guilty towards several more people.
Father Chi and Mother Chi, who raised her, and Yuna Ge.
These were all her relatives!
Inari, who knew he had inadvertently added insult to injury, felt a little guilty. He wanted to comfort her but didn't know where to start.
Finally, he just led Ichiko towards the Hospital balcony.
They were on the fifth floor, and the balcony offered a good view of a small park nearby.
Inari said, "Don't think so much. Next, calm down and adjust your emotions and body. Leave the rest to me."
"No!"
Ichiko stared blankly at the snow scene, then suddenly became firm again, "I still have things I haven't finished!"
"You said the murderer who hurt Haruko is still at large. Who did it!"
Reason returned, and Ichiko already had the answer in her heart.
It was either Sento or Lin Fangya!
Murasaki also had some possibility.
Apart from these three, there was no one else who would target her and could mobilize a sniper for assassination.
The hatred for the murderer temporarily overshadowed the guilt and regret in Ichiko's heart.
The premise of her living on with Haruko's will was to eliminate the murderer!
Avenge Haruko!
Inari sighed helplessly, "With your current state, aren't you just sending yourself to the murderer?"
"Then you have to tell me the murderer's name first. Is it Sento!"
Ichiko's eyes became a little anxious.
In her anger, she really couldn't be as rational as usual.
"It's Sento, so how do you plan to get revenge?" Inari rolled his eyes at Ichiko, "Are you going to break into the Hospital he's in, or stake out his company? He's a legitimate young master of the Yamato Family."
Inari said, "My family has intervened in this matter and told me not to get involved with Sento's affairs, and even wants me to go back to Beijing. If I hadn't argued strongly, I probably wouldn't even have the chance to stay here with you."
"At most, I can send a team of bodyguards who retired from the battlefield to protect you. As for how to specifically target Sento, you can discuss it with Shin."
"But the premise is!" Inari suddenly raised his voice, "You go home and take good care of your body, don't be a weakness and burden for Sento to manipulate!"
"I understand."
Ichiko closed her eyes and let out a long sigh.
While forcing herself to calm down, the fire of revenge in her heart was burning fiercely!
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