Chapter 222: If Only This Wasn’t a Dream

Chapter 222: Chapter 222: If Only This Wasn’t a Dream

Unlike the cold winter with snow fluttering everywhere, the morning sun was exceptionally bright, dyeing the lush trees and tall buildings in the distance with a layer of orange-gold gauze.

It seemed to be telling of the untying of her heart’s knot.

Winter departs, spring arrives.

Sunlight filtered through the dense leaves and scattered onto the stone steps, breaking into speckles of light, casting a warm and gentle glow over the entire path, and also landing on the bright orange hooded jacket of the girl in front of her.

The Orange hairpin, so familiar from memory and still cherished in her drawer, was clipped to one side of her tea-colored hair, complementing the color of her clothes.

Her delicate and lovely face wore a familiar smile, the same smile as in her memory.

A stark contrast to her cold self on the hospital bed.

While Ichiko was still in a daze, the gentle breeze, understandingly, hooked a strand of Haruko’s beautiful hair, breathed on it, and like a ribbon dancing in the morning wind, carried a faint fragrance towards Ichiko.

The tip of the hair touched her nose again, a clear yet slightly ticklish and comfortable sensation, finally bringing Ichiko back to her senses.

Haruko was still alive.

She was really standing in front of her.

The scene before her eyes, the words she heard, and her scent were not illusions!

Seeing that Ichiko hadn’t reacted for a long time, Haruko pouted, pretending to be angry, "Really, Ichiko, you’re distracted even on our date, what are you thinking abou—"

Before she could finish speaking, the girl in front of her suddenly lunged forward.

Without waiting for Haruko to react, she was already held tightly in her embrace, her voice choked with sobs, "This is great... this is great, Haruko, you’re still alive, you’re still alive, I... I... wuwuwuwu..."

The emotions that had been suppressed in her heart for a long time were all released at this moment along with her tears.

Haruko smiled helplessly and gently hugged Ichiko.

Her small hand patted her back lightly.

"Alright, I’ve always been by Ichiko’s side."

Death is not the end, but a new beginning for you and me.

Counting the time, I’ll be back in less than a month.

As if coaxing a child, Haruko reached out and stroked Ichiko’s head, "Alright, didn’t I say I would never leave? If you keep crying, your clothes will get wet."

However, her comfort not only didn’t work, but it made the girl cry even harder.

The continuous high pressure, her guilt and regret towards her, and the confusion she had temporarily bypassed after finally understanding, were all released at this moment.

She needed this embrace too much.

And she missed it too much.

Just like how she used to, after being busy and tired all day, she could rush into her embrace to vent her dissatisfaction from outside, to seek and enjoy her tenderness and affection.

In Haruko’s mind, Kai’s moved voice rang out.

[See, Host, you put so much pressure on her, the child couldn’t hold back anymore]

"I am indeed wrong, and I will correct it, but Kai, you know my goal hasn’t changed. I want Ichiko to fall in love with me, to possess me."

"So she must also change, only then can we possibly be together in the future."

Since two parallel lines can never intersect, then find a way to bend them.

One day, they will intersect again.

"But not now, right?" Holding Ichiko and enjoying the girl’s softness and tears, Haruko smiled, "Reality is already very tiring. If you give too many knives, you naturally need candy."

"No matter how eager I am to change her, I have to wait until I wake up, right?"

The strange light in Haruko’s eyes flashed and quickly turned back to tenderness.

After a long while, Ichiko finally stopped crying.

She raised her wrist to wipe her tears, and sobbed, "I... I’m sorry, Haruko, I made you see a joke, I shouldn’t have cried in front of you."

However, hearing this, Haruko became unhappy.

The wrist that was wiping tears was quickly grabbed.

Looking up, she saw this petite girl pouting and saying, "Ichiko, that’s not right. Am I not the person you can rely on the most?"

"No, Haruko, I..."

"Shh!" Haruko put her index finger to Ichiko’s lips, "If you have grievances, sad things, or if someone bullies you, you can tell me, okay? I will listen no matter what."

"I will be happy if you cry in front of me, and I will be happy if you vent your dissatisfaction to me, because then I know that Ichiko regards me as her only one, as the person she likes the most and is closest to, so you are willing to show your most vulnerable side in front of me."

"Because I like Ichiko, so no matter what, I will never dislike you."

After speaking, she lightly tapped Ichiko’s lips with the tip of her index finger, then smiled and turned around.

"Alright, since Ichiko doesn’t want me to see her vulnerable side, I won’t watch anymore. But you need to hurry and tidy yourself up, I’ve been waiting for you for a while."

Ichiko stared blankly at Haruko’s back as she turned around, her hands clasped behind her.

She smiled happily and contentedly.

"Okay!"

After nodding heavily, Ichiko quickly used her hand to wipe her eyes, wanting to tidy herself up quickly so that Haruko wouldn’t have to wait any longer.

However, she had only just looked up when a small hand holding a handkerchief was offered to her.

She didn’t turn around.

But the handkerchief with Rito Chengzi printed on it was already in front of her.

Ichiko took the handkerchief, "Sorry... Haruko, I made you worry and bothered you."

"And about what happened before, I..."

She opened her mouth, wanting to apologize for the pain she had caused her in the past by avoiding things.

But the words were stuck in her throat and couldn’t come out.

Haruko’s helpless sigh came, "Next time, I don’t want to hear ’I’m sorry’, I want to hear ’Thank you, Ichiko’, understood?"

"You shouldn’t say ’I’m sorry, I was wrong’, you should say ’Thank you, Haruko, for not blaming me’, and then strive to do better in the future."

Haruko turned around again and poked Ichiko’s still tear-streaked face angrily, "Today is a date, a happy day, you’re not allowed to talk about those things, you have to play with me properly, understood?"

A familiar and warm feeling enveloped her, and Ichiko wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes with the handkerchief.

"Okay!"

She reached out a hand and took Haruko’s small hand.

"Date, where to next?"

She didn’t avoid it like last time, calling the "date" "shopping."

When you actively like someone, you shouldn’t be like before.

Let the pain, regret, confusion, and guilt be thrown behind you.

In front of Haruko, you just need to look happy.

Then, in this process, try to like her.

Haruko turned around and shouted loudly at the small cat on the wall in the distance, "King! If you don’t come down now, I won’t want you anymore!"

"Meow!"

With a response, this beautiful and proud tabby cat quickly ran back.

She held her hand, walking on the path full of morning sun, with a small cat wagging its tail comfortably beside them.

Warmth was held in her hand, and the gentle spring breeze brushed against her pretty face.

Ichiko tilted her head, her eyes resting on Haruko’s happily smiling face.

If only this wasn’t a dream.

How wonderful that would be.

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