Chapter 56: To Acknowledge One's Faults and Mend One's Ways is the Greatest Virtue

"Takahashi! It's you!"

When Tsunade ripped the bandages off the masked man's face, revealing Takahashi Ryoichi's round face filled with resentment and grievance, Ikeda Chikako couldn't help but scream out.

Takahashi Ryoichi's eyes were bloodshot, and he roared as if he wanted to devour someone alive: "Chikako, you're lucky this time, but next time I'll definitely kill you to avenge Atsuko!!!"

"You lunatic!"

Ikeda Chikako's expression changed abruptly, and she refuted with a guilty conscience: "Atsuko committed suicide; her death has nothing to do with me."

"Do you think you can fool everyone? Atsuko showed me the manuscript of *The Sky-Colored Country* back then. She told me happily that she wanted to be a novelist in the future, so I could never figure out why she suddenly hanged herself.

It wasn't until your published work *The Cyan Kingdom* came out that I understood everything. She was betrayed by her best friend—betrayed by you, whom she always regarded as an older sister. You are the murderer who killed Atsuko!"

"I... I didn't want it to turn out like this..."

Facing Takahashi Ryoichi's accusations, Ikeda Chikako's face turned as pale as a sheet, and she collapsed to the ground in a breakdown. "I had already signed a contract with the publishing house back then. If the news that *The Cyan Kingdom* was plagiarized broke out, I would have had to pay a penalty of thirty million yen, and my life would have been ruined.

Atsuko came to me that day and forced me to admit that *The Cyan Kingdom* was plagiarism. I was truly driven to a dead end, which was why I said some harsh things to her.

However, I honestly never intended to kill her. By the time I learned the news that Atsuko had hanged herself, everything was already too late. I had no way to turn back."

Among the six members of the university film club, Ikeda Chikako and Atsuko had the closest relationship. Otherwise, Atsuko wouldn't have committed suicide just because her work was plagiarized; what she couldn't accept even more was the betrayal by her close friend.

Looking at Ikeda Chikako's remorseful and guilty appearance, Takahashi Ryoichi sneered: "Stop putting on that innocent act for me. If you were truly filled with guilt toward Atsuko, why did you adapt *The Cyan Kingdom* into a movie? You just wanted to use the works Atsuko left behind to make even more money for yourself!"

"What do you know? You don't understand anything at all!"

Ikeda Chikako wiped away her tears. "Ever since Atsuko died, apart from a small portion used to cover my own living expenses, all the royalties earned by *The Cyan Kingdom* have been anonymously transferred to Atsuko's family.

A short while ago, Atsuko's father was diagnosed with uremia, and changing a kidney requires a huge amount of medical expenses. The money I had left was far from enough, which is why I got people to adapt *The Cyan Kingdom* into a movie. Almost all the money earned from making the film has been used to pay for Atsuko's father's medical treatments."

Atsuko's suicide by hanging back then indeed had an inseparable connection to Ikeda Chikako, but she had also been atoning for this matter all these years.

After listening to Ikeda Chikako's explanation, Takahashi Ryoichi froze for a moment before coming back to his senses, asking in disbelief: "You... are you telling the truth?"

If everything Ikeda Chikako said was true, then Takahashi Ryoichi didn't hate her quite as much anymore. Even if it was impossible to completely forgive her, he no longer had the intention of killing her for revenge.

"I have no reason to lie to you about these things. If you don't believe what I say, go take a look at Atsuko's home yourself and you'll find out," Ikeda Chikako said with a serious expression.

"Alright, I'll trust you one last time. If you dare to trick me, even if it costs me my life, I'll still avenge Atsuko." Takahashi Ryoichi rubbed his sore and swollen waist, climbed up from the ground with difficulty, and staggered away from the scene.

Staring at the axe that had fallen aside, Ikeda Chikako felt a lingering wave of fear in her heart.

The reason Ikeda Chikako dared to come into the woods alone was simply because she thought someone was trying to blackmail her, and she was prepared to spend money to avert disaster.

To her surprise, however, Takahashi Ryoichi had actually intended to kill her outright. If someone hadn't stepped in to help, Ikeda Chikako would have truly met her end.

???

Just as Ikeda Chikako was preparing to express her gratitude properly, she discovered that the blonde beauty from earlier had already vanished without a trace.

(～￣▽￣)～

On the other side, after Suzuki Harunami remotely recalled Tsunade, a happy smile also appeared on his little face. He obediently lay against the edge of the bathtub, enjoying the massage service provided by Kurosaki Tamahana.

Saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda; he really is a wonderful person!

The people in the villa had no idea that an impending tragedy had once again been nipped in the bud by Suzuki Harunami.

After finishing dinner, everyone gathered together to play Old Maid for most of the night, and the next day they all left the place completely safe and sound.

A happy ending!

......

Teidan Elementary School, Year 1, Class B

"So delicious~~"

"Big Sister Tamahana's culinary skills are simply the best!"

"Totally, totally! Thanks to Harunami, we get to eat Big Sister Tamahana's pastries all the time."

Seeing Ayumi looking somewhat dejected, Suzuki Harunami couldn't help asking with puzzlement: "Ayumi, don't you usually love the pastries Big Sister Tamahana makes? Why aren't you eating any today? Did something happen?"

Watching Genta and the others eating with great relish, Ayumi couldn't help swallowing her saliva, looking extremely depressed as she said: "Because I have to go to the dentist to get a tooth pulled today, and the doctor said it's best not to eat sweets for the next few days."

"Pull a tooth?"

"Ayumi, did you get a cavity?"

Ayumi shook her head and said: "No~ It's just that a baby tooth wouldn't fall out, and the doctor said if we don't do something about it, it will grow crooked and look really ugly."

"Ew——"

Hearing this, Genta subconsciously pictured a scene in his mind where a doctor was holding an electric saw and pliers, grinning evilly at him. His hair stood on end as he muttered: "Just imagining that picture makes it hurt!"

"Ayumi, which dentist's office are you going to for the extraction?" Suzuki Harunami asked.

"It's the Shakuki Dental Clinic next to Beika Park."

Genta said with an excited expression: "I've been there before! The doctor there is super pretty and gentle; she's a total babe!"

"Ayumi, if you're scared, I'll go with you to the dentist after school! Plus, I can ask Big Sister Tamahana to make you a special strawberry cake that can relieve pain and help your wound heal faster~"

"Really? Thank you, Harunami."

"Don't mention it, it's no big deal~"

Don't forget! Suzuki Harunami still possessed a supporting item called [Mother's Lunch Box], and it only required the consumption of five mental power points to summon a piece of strawberry cake capable of healing minor injuries.