All Beautiful Girls Want to Stick with Me

After consulting the high-ponytailed female doctor, they learned that Tetsunosuke Isshiki had to avoid seafood, spicy, and acidic foods for the time being. Instead, he was advised to eat light meals and fruits.

Iroha insisted on peeling an apple for her father, but Tetsunosuke Isshiki, worried about her inexperience with a fruit knife, anxiously urged her to be careful.

His concerns proved justified. Sitting in a chair, one hand holding the fruit knife and the other holding a freshly washed apple, Iroha's hands trembled as she peeled. Watching her, it was hard not to worry that she might accidentally slice off a piece of her finger along with the apple skin.

After much effort, Iroha finally managed to peel the apple, but the result was clear: compared to its original size, the apple was now noticeably "thinner."

What should have been a simple task left Iroha sweating profusely. Holding the significantly smaller apple, she smiled sheepishly.

"Dad, maybe I should peel you another one?"

"No, no, no!" Tetsunosuke Isshiki quickly stopped her. "This bag of apples was a gift from Kumi. She picked them from her own fruit basket—I don't dare let you waste another one."

Unconvinced, Iroha pouted in frustration but soon became curious about something. Tilting her head, she asked, "Dad, who's Kumi? I don't think I've ever heard of her."

"Haha, of course you haven't. But you did see her earlier—she's the doctor who checked my wound. Her name is Kumi Motokawa."

"She and I were desk mates for six straight years, from middle school through high school. Later, she got into Waseda University, and we lost touch for years.

"With work keeping me so busy, a lot of my memories from my student days have faded over time. It wasn't until she walked into the hospital room and recognized me that I remembered her. I had no idea she'd become a surgeon at Chiba Municipal Hospital."

Looking at the bag of apples Kumi Motokawa had given him, Tetsunosuke Isshiki smiled nostalgically. He hadn't expected that after so many years, he would reunite with the classmate who had sat beside him through middle and high school—under such unexpected circumstances, no less.

Kotomi, seated on the couch recovering her strength, didn't interrupt the conversation between father and daughter. Meanwhile, Officer Hidari stepped out of the room after receiving a phone call.

A few moments later, Kotomi could feel her energy flowing back into her body, like a gushing stream revitalizing a parched desert. Bit by bit, the lifeless terrain transformed into a lush oasis, until the entire desert was overtaken by vitality.

Her limbs, which had been weighed down with fatigue, now felt completely renewed.

At this moment, Kotomi felt like she could take on ten little devils at once!

Stretching luxuriously, Kotomi felt a true sense of being fully recharged. Seeing that it was getting late, she decided to leave.

"Iroha, it's getting late, so I'll head out now. Isshiki-san, make sure to rest well. The doctor said you need plenty of rest and recovery to heal quickly."

"Thank you for your concern. Be safe on your way home. Iroha, see Kotomi out."

Kotomi and Iroha left the hospital room together, and Kotomi told her to just walk her to the elevator.

As they made their way toward the elevator, they happened to run into Officer Hidari, who had just finished her call and was waiting for the elevator to leave.

Officer Hidari noticed them as well and gave them a slight nod.

"Officer Hidari, are you heading back now?"

"Yes, once the medical examiner finalizes the autopsy report, this serial murder case will officially be closed. My and Officer Yukki's duties will finally be over. We'll return to Fujisawa City tonight and start preparing for the press conference tomorrow."

Officer Hidari initially considered lighting a cigarette but, remembering she was still in a hospital, refrained. She decided to find an empty spot outside later. Although she hadn't smoked before, since becoming an inspector, cigarettes had become her go-to method for stress relief.

"Officer Hidari, thank you so much for everything." Iroha suddenly spoke up, bowing deeply to her.

Officer Hidari looked at Iroha and, after a moment of thought, said, "Even when life throws upheavals your way, move forward boldly, like when you and Kotomi were discussing those murder methods at Enoshima. Don't dwell on what you might have done wrong—you haven't done anything wrong. Ignore the malicious gossip of others, just as people don't pay attention to the buzz of flies. Approach life and the future with passion, and learn to pick yourself up and live well."

With that, Officer Hidari prepared to make a dramatic exit, leaving behind a cool impression. But as she turned, she saw that the elevator was still stuck on the second floor.

"Mm!" Iroha nodded firmly, grabbing Kotomi's arm. "We'll live well, and when the day comes that I marry my senpai, we'll send you a wedding invitation, Officer Hidari!"

"Huh?!"

Kotomi, suddenly being clung to by Iroha, looked at her in complete bewilderment. Wasn't this conversational leap a bit too far? She resolved to ask Aimi when she got home just how old Iroha was. This generational gap in communication was absurdly wide!

Officer Hidari stared at the two, visibly stunned. While she wasn't prejudiced against same-sex relationships, this was her first time encountering one in real life.

"So, you two are in that kind of relationship? No wonder you went to the Enoshima Lighthouse together. Alright then, I'll offer you my heartfelt blessings and look forward to the day you two grow up and get married. Don't forget to send me the wedding invitation!"

Officer Hidari, usually stern, revealed a rare hearty smile.

She attempted once more to emulate the male protagonist of a crime drama, turning dramatically to walk off alone in a climactic finale. However, her exaggerated motion brought her face-to-face with the elevator panel, which showed the elevator still stuck on the second floor.

"Ahem." Officer Hidari cleared her throat, feigning composure, and briskly strode into the stairwell to take the stairs down.

The moment she entered the stairwell, the elevator finally began to ascend.

"Iroha, were you joking again just now? Be careful—if you lie to the police, Officer Hidari might arrest you~."

Kotomi playfully knocked on Iroha's forehead, feigning annoyance. But the smile on her lips had grown even warmer than before—because she could see Iroha gradually returning to her usual mischievous self.

"Hehe~."

After being tapped on the forehead, Iroha stuck out her pink tongue in a cheeky manner. When the elevator arrived, she reluctantly let go of Kotomi's arm.

"See you later, Senpai!"

"If you have time, let's visit Enoshima again. Or anywhere else, really. Let's wait for a sunny day and spend it playing together," Kotomi suggested warmly.

Hearing Kotomi's invitation, Iroha froze momentarily, then smirked mischievously and poked Kotomi's side with her finger.

"Hehehe~. Senpai, are you eager to go on a date with me? Don't tell me… the Dragon's Love Bell actually worked, and you've already fallen for me?!"

Kotomi's face instantly turned red. She huffed lightly, stepped into the elevator, and stubbornly retorted:

"You're overthinking it!"

When Kotomi reached the hospital entrance, she saw that the rain hadn't stopped and suddenly realized a critical problem:

Her umbrella was broken, abandoned by the roadside—it was gone.

Not only had that black umbrella been expensive, but the immediate concern was how to get home without one. Looking toward the nearby stand holding public rental umbrellas, she found it empty—every single one had been borrowed!

"Ah… how am I supposed to get home? Walking in the rain is bound to make me sick," Kotomi muttered, tugging at the corner of her mouth in frustration.

"Onee-chan!"

Aimi's voice suddenly cut through the sound of the rain. Kotomi looked up to see Aimi walking toward the hospital entrance, holding the same small foldable umbrella.

Seeing Aimi appear out of nowhere, Kotomi was startled. "Aimi? Why are you here?"

Without answering, Aimi grabbed Kotomi's hand and pulled her under the umbrella, her tone tinged with icy seriousness.

"We'll talk about it when we get home."

"Uh…"

Kotomi shrank her neck sheepishly, sensing this wasn't going to end well for her.

Walking along the rainy streets toward home, Kotomi racked her brain for ways to cheer Aimi up. She even considered taking out 1,000 yen to let Aimi buy more gacha toys!

Aimi suddenly stopped in her tracks, turned around, and faced Kotomi directly.

"When I saw you suddenly rush out earlier, my heart instinctively tightened. I searched every convenience store nearby but couldn't find you. It was only after I called Officer Hidari that I learned from her about how you saved Iroha all by yourself from a murderer."

Oh no... So the phone call Officer Hidari received earlier was from Aimi?! And she actually told Aimi everything?!

"Kotomi..." Aimi called out softly. Kotomi had no reason to be afraid, yet Aimi's expressionless face carried a strange sense of intimidation.

An emotionless Aimi was scarier than an angry one!

"I didn't have a choice! The situation was so urgent at the time, and I just acted on impulse," Kotomi explained hurriedly.

"I understand that," Aimi replied, her voice calm but cutting. "But don't you think you were being too reckless?

Rushing in alone, without any weapon, to confront a murderer holding a knife? What would have happened if you got hurt?!

Idiot, fool, reckless hero! Do you think you're some kind of invincible, all-powerful superhero, flying around and delivering justice?!"

Aimi stepped closer, her small fists landing on Kotomi's chest with slight but noticeable force.

"You always make everyone worry! Do you know how I felt when I heard from Officer Hidari that you faced the murderer alone? My heart nearly stopped! I was terrified you'd get hurt, scared that something might happen to you—worried that you might even die... Do you understand how uneasy I was?!"

Her voice broke with a sob. "But thank you... Kotomi, thank you so much for protecting Iroha."

"I'm sorry. I won't be so reckless again," Kotomi said, her tone filled with regret.

"If you really mean that, then don't do anything reckless when I can't see you! Don't be impulsive like today! Please... stay by my side!!!"

Tears glistened in Aimi's eyes. For her, saying those words must have taken all her courage.

Kotomi felt a deep wave of self-reflection wash over her. She admitted to herself that she had been too rash this time and had caused Aimi unnecessary worry.

"I'll comfort her properly," Kotomi thought. "At least for now, I'll listen to her without any complaints."

Reaching out, Kotomi gently patted Aimi's head.

"Stay by your side until we're home?" Kotomi asked softly, unsure how else to lighten Aimi's mood. She even mentally prepared herself to spend a fortune buying gacha toys for Aimi if that's what it took.

But instead of cheering up, Aimi seemed startled by Kotomi's words. Her beautiful eyes widened as she stared at Kotomi and firmly declared, word by word:

"Stay by my side forever!!!"

The two of them stood under the same umbrella on the rain-soaked street. The rhythmic pattering of raindrops on the umbrella created a unique stillness.

In that quiet moment, with their faces flushed, Kotomi and Aimi gazed at each other.

"Staying by your side forever... Aimi, could it be that you're trying to propose to Kotomi?!"

Out of nowhere, Megumi Kato's soft voice broke the silence.

Kotomi and Aimi snapped out of their daze and turned to see Megumi standing nearby. Holding an umbrella in one hand and carrying several bags in the other, she looked at them with a curious expression.

"So that's what's going on... Aimi, you've started making moves while I wasn't around?" Megumi said, her tone a mix of shock and amusement.

"Haha... I didn't expect you to go on the offensive so directly. Impressive. But don't think I'll back down so easily!"

Shock gave way to blazing determination as Megumi's fighting spirit ignited like an unyielding inferno. Her gaze at Aimi was sharp, like that of a warrior facing a formidable rival on the battlefield!

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