In fact, within half an hour of hanging up the phone, Ryusuke Kawakami arrived at the hospital.
His explanation was that he learned at the last minute that a professor at his university had asked him for a project, so he ended his vacation early.
The Akasaka couple didn't question him about why he came back, but instead of going home to take care of his younger sister, Kawakami Ryusuke's feelings for his sister were less than those for his female classmates. But now that he's come, does it prove that his sister still holds some weight in Kawakami Ryusuke's heart?
Faced with this exceptionally handsome young man, the Akasaka couple said nothing and silently led him into the ward.
Cheng Shuang was still unconscious and unaware that her nominal older brother was standing in front of her hospital bed, showing no concern and lost in thought.
Even if she knew, she probably wouldn't react much.
After all, Cheng Shuang is currently trapped in a nightmare, dreaming that she seems to have been reborn and grown up again.
At the beginning, there were times when her thoughts were confused. She thought she was just a nobody named 'Kayako', who didn't like to talk, was timid and introverted, and was surrounded by deep loneliness.
Occasionally, when she wanted to grin at her indifferent parents, a voice would tell her, "Don't smile. Nobody likes to see Kayako smile."
Gradually, too many dissenting thoughts flashed through her mind, and occasionally some strange yet familiar images would intrude into her dreams, telling her that her life should not be a lifeless, dull, uncared-for existence.
In her dream, she had a humorous and handsome father, a gentle and capable mother, and a beautiful and outstanding older sister. Although they didn't speak Japanese, they would surround her, their eyes sometimes filled with worry, sometimes with joy, and always with love.
Even though that dream is always filled with the strong smell of hospital disinfectant...
Of course, there are many other faces that flash through my dreams from time to time, but some dreams are too bloody and fantastical, so I just think they are either happy or sad dreams.
'Kayako' finally remembered her full identity. She was hit by a car on her way home from school. If she were the real Kayako, she would be like a wounded little animal, silently shrinking into a corner and licking her wounds alone.
But she wouldn't; she cherishes herself and her hard-won healthy body.
So the little girl defied the voice in her head and insisted on going to the hospital to apply the medicine.
Then, a stretcher carrying a body passed by, and due to a nurse's improper handling, the white sheet covering the body's face slipped down.
Kayako discovered that, for the first time, when she faced a corpse, she was not afraid, but calmly analyzed the cause of death.
Once I realized this, the memories slowly returned like snowflakes.
Kayako stood alone at school, and the classmates and teachers who came towards her treated her as if she were invisible. Her parents did the same when she got home, treating her as if she didn't exist. Perhaps "habitual indifference" is a more appropriate way to describe these parents.
There was no agreement, no laughter, no sharing; my heart felt as if it had fallen into darkness, leaving only fear and loneliness.
At that moment, Cheng Shuang clearly realized that she was not Kayako. She liked sunshine and smiles. Even if her classmates looked at her with pity, she could still give them a friendly smile.
Cheng Shuang was unwilling to follow Kayako's version step by step. The first change she made was that she volunteered to participate in an event at the class sports meet.
This was the first time that the teacher had called out the name of 'Kayako,' who had been hiding behind her desk.
"You want to participate in the two-legged relay race?"
The teacher asked incredulously.
"You really want to participate?"
Cheng Shuang nodded without hesitation and said with a smile, "I hope the teacher can recommend a partner to me."
The teacher was stunned for a moment, still somewhat incredulous. After a moment, she nodded encouragingly and said, "Okay, but I can only recommend you. You need to take the initiative to invite your classmates!"
Cheng Shuang then slowly looked at the little ones sitting at their desks, tucked the stray hairs that were obscuring her eyes behind her ears, and smiled at everyone, "I know! Thank you for giving me this opportunity, teacher. I will cherish it!"
The teacher was startled again. It was the first time she had heard Kayako say so much. She had thought Kayako was a gloomy child, but she never expected that she would also be prejudiced against others!
Not only the teachers, but also the students who had been in the same class for two years shared similar amazement.
Cheng Shuang already had a vague feeling that Kayako, who was hiding in her consciousness, wanted to do something. It wanted to create another version of itself, so that 'Kayako' would experience the same loneliness and desolation, have no hope in life, and finally be tormented by Saeki and die in agony.
If she dies in a dream, it will inevitably add fuel to Kayako's resentment.
Cheng Shuang cannot escape the shackles created by Kayako, but that does not mean she has to follow Kayako's path.
The teacher selected three students, and Cheng Shuang directly chose a girl who seemed very introverted.
Without saying a word, she walked straight to the girl's table, extended her hand, and said, "Hello, my name is Cheng... Kayako! It's nice to be your partner!"
The girl looked up, her reluctant expression quickly fading when she saw Cheng Shuang's bright smile. Finally, as if infected by his smile, she couldn't help but smile too. "Hello Kayako, my name is Sakamoto Natsumi."
In the four-legged race, Cheng Shuang and Xia Mei won the championship. It wasn't because the two had great teamwork, but because Cheng Shuang was aware that she was in a 'dream'. Since it was a dream, winning an award was not difficult, and she could even get first place in every subject.
However, Cheng Shuang didn't want to alert the enemy, so she tried to keep everything as realistic as possible.
When she returned home with the trophy, Kayako's parents had not yet come home from get off work. They were not only very busy with work, but their relationship was also not as close as that of a typical family.
This time, however, Cheng Shuang did not choose to go straight back to her room. Instead, she went to Kayako's parents' bedroom, found paper and pen, and wrote: "My first medal in life is for my beloved mom and dad!"
There was also a little girl wearing a skirt drawn in the back.
The medals were placed directly on their pillows, so that either of them could see them when they slept.
Even so, Cheng Shuang did not give up. The young girl had played the tricks to the fullest. She tore off several sticky notes and stuck them on the entryway, then on the kitchen refrigerator, the living room sofa, and so on.
The first note said "Welcome home, Mom and Dad," the second said "Thank you for your hard work, Mom and Dad," and the third said "I have a gift for you, Mom and Dad," and so on.
She had played this treasure hunt game with her sister in the real world. On the day her sister returned in glory after winning the math Olympiad, she filled the house with notes and finally hid the celebratory gift in a place that was obvious yet not so easy to find.
Of course, she went to great lengths for her sister, but she was indeed somewhat perfunctory in dealing with Kayako's parents.
But it must be said that even the weakened version of the treasure hunt game still touched the hearts of those indifferent parents.
Their first reaction upon seeing the note was naturally not as joyful as their older sister's. On the contrary, Kayako's mother was quite angry, believing that Kayako had added to her workload, so she rudely tore up the first note.
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