My Romance Simulation with Them

"That's not all! He even knows which izakayas I usually go to, and that I vomited on the manager when I threw up."

"So you let it slip when you went to the izakaya, right? And Mizuki-nee, you might not know, but you have a habit of talking nonsense when you're drunk."

Takina Inoue, propping her chin on her hand, analyzed the situation clearly and logically:

"Maybe that's when it was exposed. I should drink less in the future."

"Yeah, yeah, we need to be more reliable, we're adults."

At this moment, Chizuka Nishiki also came over with a grin and chimed in.

Hearing what they said, Nakahara Mizuki looked incredulous: "Wait a minute, do you guys really think I'm that unreliable?"

"You're always looking for men, and you even like hungover adults. On the contrary, I'm a little curious why Sister Mizuki thinks we have a good impression of you?"

"Well--!"

It has to be said that Inoue Takina's words really struck a chord with Nakahara Mizuki.

She clutched her chest, looking as if she had suffered a heavy blow.

"Takina, everything you said is true, but isn't it a bit too much to say these things?"

"Uh--"

Chizuka Nishiki, standing nearby, chuckled and added insult to injury, causing Mizuki Nakahara to feel a sharp pain in her chest.

but...

She had already considered it before.

Furthermore, Chizuka Nishiki's congenital heart disease is no joke...

So she took a deep breath, suppressing all her frustration, before speaking: "Instead of mocking me, I think you should really consider... especially Chizuka."

Recalling Nango's words, she turned to look at Nishiki Chizuka: "That person said that your heart can only last for another month."

“Mizuki, even if you say you’re joking now, I’m still going to get angry.”

Inoue Takina stopped what she was doing and looked over at her with Wisteria's eyes.

His voice, as if thorny, carried a hint of anger.

Chizuka Nishiki's congenital heart disease is something that many people in the 'Riko Riko' group are unwilling to talk about.

Saying such things in front of Chizuka Nishiki herself goes beyond being simply rude.

This is like telling a dying person when they are about to die...

Inoue Takina felt a pang of heartache.

Moreover, every time she asked Nishiki Chizuki, the other party would confidently tell her that she had at least three or four months left to live.

Only one month left... This is too cruel... and too sudden.

Thinking of this, Inoue Takina simply said, "Chizuka, don't pay attention to this social outcast whose brain has been ravaged by alcohol. How could a con artist possibly say something like that..."

She turned her head as she spoke, but stopped talking before she could finish.

"Why...?"

A surprised sound came from Inoue Takina's mouth. She noticed that Nishiki Chizuka, who had just been grinning, now had her bright smile frozen.

It's like...

It was exactly as Mizuki Nakahara had predicted.

"No way...?"

The rag used to wipe the table slipped limply to the floor. Looking at Chizuka Nishiki, Takina Inoue couldn't help but open her mouth: "Chizuka...could it be that you really..."

"Uh... well... how should I put it..."

At this moment, Chizuka Nishiki also realized that her reaction was wrong.

She chuckled twice, then turned her face away somewhat awkwardly, avoiding Inoue Takina's gaze.

At the same time, her usually carefree and indifferent heart was now filled with turbulent waves.

The heart can only withstand the strain for one more month.

This was something her attending physician told her in secret.

Similarly, in order not to worry 'RicoRico's' companions.

Chizuki Nishiki did not tell anyone the exact time—she even told others that she had three or four months left to live, and that she still had a chance to recuperate.

Even Mika, the shop manager who raised her, was no exception.

She initially thought that Mizuki Nakahara was just joking and saying it casually, so she curiously responded with a couple of words.

However, once this deadline for death was set...

She could no longer maintain her composure.

"Chizuka, could it be that you really...?"

Takina Inoue is not a fool.

On the contrary, having spent so much time with Nishiki Chizuka, she naturally knew her habits very well.

Seeing the uncomfortable expression on Nishiki Chizuka's face, she could finally be sure.

What Mizuki Nakahara said is probably true.

"Uh...oh dear..."

Chizuki Nishiki scratched her head, somewhat embarrassed and awkward, and said, "I didn't expect to be exposed in this way..."

Then she let out a somewhat surprised exclamation:

"Sister Ruixi, that spiritual medium you mentioned is really amazing! She even guessed that..."

"Now is not the time to talk about that kind of thing!"

Upon learning that her friend and family were in such dire straits, Inoue Takina lost all interest in helping out at the shop and went straight to Nishiki Chizuka without hesitation.

"How are you feeling? Are you alright? Can you eat anything? Speaking of which, you mentioned a while ago that you were a bit tired from staying up late watching movies, could it be that..."

The more Inoue Takina thought about it, the worse her expression became; her delicate, fair face was filled with anxiety.

"Oh dear...that's an exaggeration. I'm perfectly healthy! I was just a little tired from watching the movie that day."

It seems that Inoue Takina truly considers herself a terminally ill patient.

Although it was indeed true, Chizuka Nishiki still chuckled awkwardly twice, trying to brush it off as usual.

But this time, Inoue Takina wasn't so easily fooled.

"Indeed, we should go see a doctor."

She decisively grabbed Nishiki Chizuka's hand and started to walk out.

"Ugh...? No way, injections are expensive and they hurt so much."

Chizuka Nishiki voiced her protest.

"But--"

Just as Inoue Takina was about to continue speaking.

next second.

"That's enough, Takina."

For the first time, Chizuka Nishiki did not speak in a frivolous, smiling manner.

Her fiery red eyes looked at Inoue Takina, and she shook her head with a smile: "You know, there's no point in doing that kind of thing, right?"

“…” Inoue Takina.

Inoue Takina remained silent.

The expression on his face, with his lower lip clenched, conveyed pain and struggle.

Yes.

She knows it.

The medication can only play a supporting role in Chizuka Nishiki's health at present.

That's it.

If the problem can be solved simply by getting an injection or receiving treatment, then the doctor will arrange it without the patient even asking.

One month.

This was the doctor's final ultimatum to Chizuka Nishiki.

Not telling them this fact was also a sign that Chizuka Nishiki truly cared about them and didn't want them to worry.

Then--

A voice rang out; it was Nakahara Mizuki's voice.

“I think we can really try to believe in that medium.”

This time, Nakahara Mizuki, unusually, didn't act nonchalant as usual, but instead showed a serious expression: "Although the possibility is very slim, maybe the other side really does have a solution?"

"Sister Mizuki, even at a time like this, you're still saying things like that..."

Inoue Takina took a deep breath and shook her head.

She had never believed in theology; she only believed in everything that was reasonable and that she could grasp.

"Didn't the other party accurately predict the time?"

"Anyway, it must have been a random guess."

Takina Inoue has a somewhat stubborn personality.

"No...that's not it at all. I can sense that the other party was confident, absolutely confident, before saying that, without any hesitation."

Recalling Nanxiang's confident and composed demeanor, as if he had anticipated everything.

Mizuki Nakahara shook her head, denying Inoue Takina's words, and replied with a wise and clear gaze: "I can see that."

“...Mizuki-nee…”