"I... I'm a yandere?!"
Ichiko's hand holding the phone trembled uncontrollably.
Just then, a white light illuminated the dark window, a flash of lightning lit up the entire world, but the delayed thunder did not sound.
That clap of thunder, however, echoed in Ichiko's heart.
Before she could say anything, Dr. Kaito's tone suddenly became lighthearted, "Of course, I was just joking. After talking to you for half a month, I understand your personality. How could you be a yandere?"
"Don't be too nervous," Dr. Kaito continued, her tone no longer as oppressive as before, "If what you told me earlier was the truth, you probably understand it yourself, right?"
"The reason why Orange became a yandere, and why the object of her yandere tendencies is you."
She didn't even need Dr. Kaito to remind her further.
Ichiko's mind had already followed her thoughts, completing the last piece of the puzzle.
Recalling that afternoon at the very beginning of everything.
That confusing and inexplicable basement, which she didn't want to remember.
Haruko, like a madwoman, screamed at her in collapse.
"You always told me that I was your most precious friend, your most important person, the person you liked the most!"
"Since you told me that, why did you betray me!"
"Sento, Shin, Inari, you already have me, why do you still like them!"
"Ichiko, is having just me not enough?"
At that time, Ichiko couldn't understand why Haruko would say such things.
She just thought it was the wrong ideas instilled in her by those unfriendly sisters, leading her down the wrong path.
Recalling it now, coupled with Dr. Kaito's guidance, she gradually understood.
Haruko said those words, all because of her!
However, she was only a few months older than Haruko, so how much more could she understand than Haruko?
Both of them were once ignorant and naive.
And all along, Ichiko had only regarded Haruko as her best friend, a sister who always lacked a sense of security and needed encouragement and care.
She had never stood in Haruko's perspective to look at the unintentional words she herself had spoken.
Only by clearing the clouds can one see the light of day.
The logic did not collapse, the past suspense and entanglement were completed in a closed loop at this moment.
"So it's because of me that Haruko became a yandere."
Ichiko whispered softly.
"And after Haruko became a yandere, I was afraid of her, feared her, and even thought about escaping and ignoring her from then on..."
Her thoughts became clear, but her brain started to lack oxygen.
A tidal wave of guilt and self-blame drowned Ichiko's heart.
Word by word, she spoke through her mouth, "All along, I'm the one who has let Haruko down..."
And Haruko, holding the phone and listening to these whispered words, smiled strangely and contentedly.
She gently reached out and offered a straw.
"Peach Miss, there is still a chance to salvage this."
Ichiko suddenly came back to her senses and said urgently to Dr. Kaito, "Can it really be salvaged?"
Dr. Kaito said with a half-smile, her gentle and mature voice reassuring, "We are just helping you sort out your thoughts and recognize the current situation. The topic of whether it can be saved is inherently left for the end."
Ichiko asked eagerly, "Then... what should I do?"
But Dr. Kaito did not continue to interfere and said slowly, "What to do next is not for me to decide, but depends on your own actions."
It's the unknown choices and actions that will bring surprises, Ichiko~
Dr. Kaito: "At the same time, going back to the previous topic, after ruling out sending her to a mental hospital, all you can do now is accept her."
"Also, you've sorted out your own situation. When you face her, will you still be as afraid as before?"
"I..." Ichiko gently exhaled, "It's all my fault that Haruko became like this. I will take responsibility. Even if this hadn't happened, I wouldn't have left her alone."
"But Dr. Kaito, do you have any other ways to relieve stress and anxiety?" Ichiko pressed, "I must take responsibility, I know that, but Haruko's yandere state still makes me feel a little uneasy."
"Regarding your problem, what you actually need is a listener," Dr. Kaito said slowly, "Ideally, like me, a netizen you don't know but can talk to."
"Of course, friends in reality are also fine, but it's best if they are trustworthy and don't let your Orange friend know."
"In addition, it's popular to find various companions now. You can find a companion with common interests and chat while enjoying your hobbies together."
Ichiko hesitated, "Uh... I don't seem to have any hobbies."
"Then find a hobby," Dr. Kaito said, "Watching anime together, playing games, or just having a voice call and chatting is fine. Exercise can also relieve stress, but in your case, having someone to talk to would be better."
"Okay, I'll try."
Ichiko wrote it down very seriously.
She then asked, "Then Dr. Kaito, how should I face Haruko? I... I have no idea."
"Just be as usual," Dr. Kaito said with a smile, "Yanderes are very well-behaved when they are not stimulated, but I think you can also appropriately enjoy it."
"Enjoy?"
"Yes, since you can't resist, why not try to enjoy the process of treatment? Do you remember what I said?"
Dr. Kaito's laughter was captivating, "A yandere's love is unique."
Ichiko said hesitantly, "But... I'm just pretending to like her. To enjoy something like that is really..."
"This doesn't conflict with you pretending to like her," Dr. Kaito interrupted Ichiko, "This is a process, but it ultimately depends on you personally. But there's one thing you need to remember, try to accept what you dislike."
Ichiko murmured in confusion, "Accept what I dislike?"
"Yes," Dr. Kaito nodded, "You are afraid of your Orange friend and want to escape. If you don't even try to accept her bad side, to accept your dislike of her, then it's like no one is standing by her side."
"This is very important for treatment!"
For the first time, the word "important" came out of Dr. Kaito's mouth. Ichiko nodded seriously, "I understand, Dr. Kaito, thank you for your guidance today!"
Dr. Kaito responded, "You're welcome. I told you, as doctors, we often use this method to sort out patients' thoughts. At most, I can chat with you in my free time and can't help you more."
Of course, as a psychologist, while sorting out thoughts,
You can also guide thoughts.
Ichiko, how can you escape my grasp?
Haruko is so cute, do you really dislike me?
The call ended.
Ichiko exhaled a long breath. After understanding what she needed to do and her thoughts, the depression in her heart had lessened significantly.
Recalling Dr. Kaito's words, Ichiko murmured in thought, "Try to accept what I dislike, so Haruko will be happy..."
She didn't dislike Haruko, she was just a little afraid of her yandere tendencies. So what was there to dislike?
As she was thinking, Ichiko suddenly thought of something.
She slowly turned her head and looked at the leftover...
Half a bottle of baijiu.
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