In this crossover anime, I've been bound to two systems.

Mrs. Isshiki pursed her lips, hardening her heart to avoid looking at her.

The little injury on her daughter's face is nothing compared to the current state of Suzumiya Senri and Nakano Rei.

She left the ward and went to discuss things quietly with her husband, who was pacing back and forth in the corridor.

Looking at her sister-in-law on the hospital bed and the lifeless, rotten-wood-like Ryoumiya Chisato sitting beside her, Iroha Isshiki looked at her and felt an overwhelming sense of guilt that made it hard for her to breathe.

She, who has always been very afraid of pain, now doesn't even care about the bruise on her buttocks or the redness and swelling on her cheeks.

She took two steps forward and stood behind Suzumiya Senri. She felt she should say something at this moment, but she didn't know what to say.

She heard every word the doctor said.

My baby will never be able to see this wonderful world with his own eyes again.

My sister-in-law, who used to happily show off the little hats and socks she knitted herself so many nights, will never be able to use them again.

Not only that, she will never be able to get pregnant again, and will even lose the chance to become a mother forever.

Because of my own foolishness, a happy and fulfilling family was destroyed.

How will my sister-in-law react when she wakes up and learns of these two terrible news?

Will Brother Qianli still be able to show that gentle and warm smile like before?

Ichiro Iroha's lips trembled, and she dared not even breathe, standing there blankly as time ticked by.

A faint groan eased the tense atmosphere that had almost frozen the air.

Suzumiya Chisato quickly leaned over to look at his beloved wife as she slowly opened her eyes.

"husband……"

Suzumiya Chisato held her hands tightly, placed a gentle kiss on them, and tried her best to smile.

"I'm here. How are you feeling now?"

"I feel a little pain... Baby, by the way! How are you, baby?"

As her awareness of etiquette in Central and North America gradually became clearer, she immediately asked about the thing she was most worried about as a "mother".

"Don't get upset, Meili. Listen to me, the baby is fine."

Suzumiya Chisato puts himself in the role of a "dutiful" husband, forcing a smile while suppressing his inner pain, and trying to comfort his beloved wife with lies.

"No...no, I can't feel the baby anymore! Honey, our baby isn't moving..."

"Calm down first..."

"Honey, what's wrong with our baby?!"

Midori Nakamoto went into a frenzy, her eyes wide open, her hands gripping Suzumiya Senri's clothes tightly.

"..."

Suzumiya Senri kept his lips tightly closed, leaned forward, and hugged Nakano Rei tightly.

His actions, his reactions, and his silence said it all.

"Ugh... Waaaaah... Why... I wish it were me... Why did such an innocent baby have to leave..."

"Don't say that, Miri. We'll have other opportunities in the future."

"Mom... what about Mom? She's so happy to be able to hold her grandson, how are we going to tell her... Waaaaaah..."

"It will get better, it will get better..."

"woo woo woo woo……"

Midori rested her chin on Suzumiya Senri's shoulder, her expression blank, tears streaming down her face. No matter how heart-wrenching her sobs were, they could not accurately express the pain of a mother who had lost her child.

Looking at her sister-in-law's grief-stricken face, Isshiki Hatake felt a wave of guilt wash over her, spreading to every corner of her body. A gray filter clouded her vision, and the world she saw gradually lost its color.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

After being given a mood-soothing drug, the woman in the Central American dress slowly fell asleep under the gentle coaxing of Suzumiya Chisato.

Suzumiya Chisato covered her with a blanket and then quietly left the ward with the others.

The doctor was writing something in the medical record book when he sighed softly, put the pen away, and said directly,

"Judging from the lady's behavior just now, she was impulsive and unable to control herself well. She also exhibited some almost self-harming behaviors, such as slapping her own face and punching the wall. These are typical signs of mental stimulation."

Hearing these words, the Isshiki couple looked even more worried.

Isshiki Iroha stood blankly to one side, and ever since she witnessed her sister-in-law's crazy appearance, which was completely different from her usual self, she had been in a daze.

"Doctor, do you mean my wife needs psychological treatment?"

"No, given that she just lost her child, her situation is understandable. There's no need to take her to see a psychologist. That might put unnecessary pressure on her and could be counterproductive. As her family, what you need to do now is to stay by her side and support her."

…………

Chapter 138 The Cage is Being Made

"It's about companionship."

"Yes, the best way is to distract your wife by spending time with her. I will prescribe her a smaller amount of sleeping pills to ensure her sleep quality for the next few days, but she cannot take them long-term. To help her recover both physically and mentally, we still need to ensure she gets three meals a day and maintains a basic sense of peace. Of course, it would be even better if she could stay happy."

"Thank you doctor."

Suzumiya Chisato watched the doctor leave.

He turned to look at the Isshiki couple and Isshiki Iroha, pursed his lips, and walked towards the latter.

Mr. Isshiki was slightly worried and wanted to step forward to say something, but Mrs. Isshiki held his arm tightly to stop him, and shook her head slightly when he looked over.

Taking a few steps forward, Chisato Suzumiya, who had stopped in front of Iroha Isshiki, slowly raised her hand.

Iroha Isshiki was mentally prepared to be slapped on the other side of her face again, but she wasn't afraid at all; instead, she felt somewhat relieved.

If beating himself up would appease Qianli, then he wouldn't try to dodge until Qianli had vented his anger.

She had made up her mind, and that was definitely the case...

But when she saw the other person raise their hand, she still closed her eyes in fear.

However, the forceful slap she had imagined did not come down; instead, she felt a gentle caress on her cheek, which had been slapped by her father earlier.

She opened her eyes and saw Suzumiya Chisato's smile, which was clearly one of hidden sadness and feigned cheerfulness.

That smile was the most heartbreaking one she had ever seen.

“In the past, when your uncle was about to beat you, you were always very clever and would run behind your aunt or me. What’s wrong with you today? You’re not like yourself at all.”

"...!"

Hearing Suzumiya Chisato say those words in her usual tone, Iroha Isshiki suddenly felt a lump in her throat for some reason.

Despite being hit so hard by her father just now, she didn't feel like crying at all, but now, because of a single sentence from Suzumiya Chisato, her eyes quickly welled up with tears.

Guilt, unease, self-blame... all turned into tears, sliding down my cheeks, the burning sensation clearly felt.

"Don't cry, it's just your sister-in-law, I can't comfort her all by myself."

Stop laughing, stop laughing...

"Let's go to the amusement park together later when your sister-in-law is discharged from the hospital. Just like the doctor said, let's do everything we can to make her happy."

Why is the person who needs comforting the most here comforting me instead...?

"Since you're a senior and don't have many classes, if I'm too busy with work, I'll have to ask you to spend more time with your sister-in-law."

I, the culprit, have absolutely no right to get any closer to my sister-in-law...

"Brother Qianli..."

"Alright, you don't need to say anything, just listen to me."

With tears streaming down her face, Isshiki Hatake mustered the courage to speak, only to be immediately silenced by Suzumiya Senri.

He wiped away her tears with his fingertips and then gently stroked her glossy hair.

"I've been busy running around until now, and I'm hungry. Could you please run an errand for me and buy me a pork chop rice bowl?"

"..."

Isshiki Iroha stared at him blankly, without moving.

"Iroha!"

Lady Isshiki, who had been observing from the sidelines, spoke up to offer a reminder at this moment.

Iroha Isshiki took a deep breath, wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes with the inside of her wrist, and nodded gently.

Just as she turned to leave, Suzumiya Chisato suddenly told her to wait.

He called out to a passing nurse and asked her if she had any extra masks.

The nurse took an unopened mask out of her pocket and handed it to her. Ryoumiya Chisato thanked her, took the mask, unwrapped it, and went to Isshiki Iroha to put it on her.

"It's okay now, go ahead."

"..."

Iroha Isshiki's mood, which had just calmed down a little, began to waver again at this moment.

"kindness……"

She responded with a muffled nasal sound, then turned and left.

Suzumiya Chisato turned to face Isshiki and his wife, told them that she was fine and her wife would be fine too, and asked them to help her go home and pack some clothes for herself and her wife to bring back.

The Isshiki couple agreed, turned around, and left as they turned the corner.

Suzumiya Chisato slowly slid down the wall and sat on the ground, her sobs faintly reaching the ears of the Isshiki couple who hadn't gone far.

Mrs. Isshiki felt a pang of heartache; after all, he was a child she had watched grow up, practically her son. She wanted to turn around and take a look, but Mr. Isshiki grabbed her arm.

"Let the child be alone for a while. A real man doesn't want others to see his vulnerable side."

Not long after, when Isshiki Hajime returned with the pork cutlet rice, she witnessed Suzumiya Chisato, all alone, wailing in a heartbreaking manner in the bustling hospital corridor.

She silently withdrew her feet, retreating back into the shadows, and stood there motionless at the corner for a long time.

The pork chop rice in her hands went from hot to cold.