Chapter 4: Pure Love

Shirakawa Natsumi started a new project, which quickly caught the attention of Hashimoto Arina.

“Oh dear, are you drawing a new story again?” Hashimoto Arina, wearing a white coat, walked over with a smile, carrying a registration book. She reached the bedside, leaned over, and looked at the manuscript he was drawing: “Isn’t this one one of those fight scenes?”

“This is a story about youth and first love.” Shirakawa Natsu picked up a stack of manuscripts from the side and handed them over: “You can take a look, Arina.”

“Is it really okay to look at?” Hashimoto Arina asked, picking up the painting. “Although I don’t know much about the art industry, first drafts are things that need to be kept strictly confidential, right?”

“It’s alright.” Shirakawa Natsu put down her pen and smiled. “I don’t plan to publish this story; it’s just a story I drew for myself.”

“Then I’m even more curious.” Hashimoto Arina flipped through the manuscript and paused when she saw the female protagonist. She looked about 80% like her in junior high school, except that her breasts were much smaller.

But he quickly regained his smile, sat down by the hospital bed, and continued flipping through the pages.

Shirakawa Natsu secretly glanced at her expression, her smile changing with the ups and downs of the plot, clearly indicating that she was already immersed in the story.

The way I viewed his shonen manga was completely different from how I used to quickly flip through it.

After reading the entire manuscript, Hashimoto Arina closed it, turned to look at Shirakawa Natsu with a strange expression.

“Why are you looking at me like that, Sister Yu-cai?” Shirakawa Natsu asked curiously.

“You’re a genius.” Hashimoto Arina looked him up and down again. “I don’t know how your brain works. Talking to you puts a lot of pressure on a mere mortal like me.”

After saying that, he crossed his arms and made a praying gesture: “God, did you forget to add intelligence when you created me?”

Shirakawa Natsu couldn’t help but laugh out loud at her exaggerated performance. Glancing at her chest, she thought, “God is fair; he probably just adds it to other places.”

“I don’t even want to see what happens next.” Hashimoto Arina pouted. “Let this innocent and pure love stay at its most beautiful moment. If I see a tragedy, I’ll definitely become depressed.”

“There’s no tragedy,” Shirakawa Natsu said with a smile. “The male and female protagonists will live happily ever after.”

“After all, happiness is the main theme of love.”

Hashimoto Arina paused for a moment, then immediately reached out and patted his head: “Seriously, what are you pretending to be, acting all grown up?”

After she finished speaking, she stood up and reached out to help Shirakawa Natsu make the bed.

Shirakawa Natsu secretly took out her phone, opened the app to peek at the favorability rating, which had risen two points from 76 to 78.

We’re only two points away from 80.

It seems the plan was correct; this is the first step. The next step is to use this as an opportunity to increase the time we spend together.

An increase of only two points is to be expected; once favorability reaches a certain level, it becomes increasingly difficult to increase.

Hashimoto Arina had already tidied up the bedside table and casually tossed a few wads of toilet paper into the trash.

After the toilet paper was removed, a small card lay quietly on the table, depicting a young woman in an indecent nurse’s uniform striking a provocative pose.

Hashimoto Arina paused for a moment, then looked down at the crumpled paper she had just thrown into the trash can.

There was a moment of awkwardness. He had forgotten about the card; Miyuki had left it on the bedside table yesterday. “I had a bit of a cold last night.”

“Remember to drink more hot water.” Hashimoto Arina’s expression didn’t change. She tucked her long hair, which had fallen loose from bending over, behind her ear and continued to tidy up the counter for him, ignoring the small card.

She wasn’t embarrassed, but Bai Chuanxia was. He was only worried about losing the goodwill he had worked so hard to build up.

Hashimoto Arina carefully tidied up around his bed, stood up, clapped her hands, and smiled, “Alright, another pleasant day.”

Before leaving, she poured a full pot of hot water for Shirakawa Natsumi.

Bai Chuanxia watched her departing figure, feeling utterly exhausted. She took out her phone, wanting to see how much favorability she had lost this time.

But the large number 82 above made him wonder if he was seeing things.

I rubbed my eyes, looked at it again, and confirmed that it was after 1982. I felt terrible. Why did I only add 2 points after working so hard and racking my brains to draw it for so long?

But after seeing the small card, why did four points inexplicably increase?

A woman’s heart is like a needle at the bottom of the sea; Shirakawa Natsu says she can’t understand it.

But now that the affection level is already 80, there might be a chance of acceptance if I confess.

Shirakawa Natsu closed his eyes and tapped his fingers on the bed; he still needed to wait for an opportunity.

A week has passed, and Shirakawa Natsu has been chatting with Hashimoto Arina frequently, using manga as a starting point.

Their conversations gradually expanded to cover all aspects of life.

“So, was it because of her father that Sister Cai became a doctor?” Shirakawa Natsu sat on a wooden chair by the lawn.

The sun is shining brightly today, and it feels wonderfully warm against your skin.

“Yes, because I grew up in this hospital.” Hashimoto Arina sat to the side, looking at the hospital building, her eyes filled with a variety of emotions.

“Back then, my dad often had to stay up very late because of surgeries, and I would stay in his office after school.”

“It must have been tough.” Shirakawa Natsu looked at the hospital building, which showed many signs of renovation and had been in operation for quite some time.

“No, no~” Hashimoto Arina turned her head and smiled sincerely: “The nurses in the hospital are all very nice. They share their bento boxes with me. I’ve always felt like a lucky person. Becoming a doctor has always been my dream, and now my dream has come true.”

“Hmm.” Shirakawa Natsu secretly glanced at her phone. After taking the initiative these past few days, their favorability rating had reached 93.

He originally planned to confess his feelings when he reached 90, but he couldn’t find the opportunity.

As the two were talking, an elderly man with gray hair pushed a wheelchair over from the lawn, and an elderly woman with similarly gray hair was sitting in the wheelchair.

When the old lady saw Hashimoto Arina, she smiled broadly and asked the old man to push her over, saying, “Dr. Arina, thank you for your help with my husband’s matter.”

“Hehe, does Grandma Tanaka still feel bloated?” Hashimoto Arina also stood up, walked over enthusiastically, squatted down, and held the old lady’s hand to ask.

Shirakawa Natsu was also infected by this smile and couldn’t help but smile back. She had encountered this situation many times in the past few days.

Hashimoto Arina is very popular at the hospital. She can accurately call out the name of every patient, remember their symptoms, and can recite them off the top of her head.

Out of curiosity, Shirakawa Natsu asked Hashimoto Arina how she did it.

“Of course, it’s because of my passion.” Hashimoto Arina’s face shone as she spoke.

“Looks like I’ll have to postpone my confession again.” Shirakawa Natsu looked at the 93’s affection level. If this were a game, this level of affection would be enough to unlock all sorts of poses.

But reality isn’t a game, and Shirakawa Natsu is a bit of a follower of her heart.

“What are you thinking about? You’re so focused. I’ve called you several times already.” Hashimoto Arina called out from the side, “It’s time to go back.”

“It’s alright.” Shirakawa Natsumi smiled. Wait a little longer, find a suitable opportunity, and building goodwill is a relative matter.

After spending these days together, he has gained a new understanding of this easy-going older sister: she is thoughtful, gentle, and strong.

It would be a blessing to date a woman like that.

“Let’s go.” Hashimoto Arina naturally took his arm, slowed her pace, and followed beside him.

The ward was on the second floor. As the two entered the stairwell, they encountered two nurses chatting there.

“Have you heard? Dr. Tanaka’s punishment has been announced. He’s been suspended, just as expected.”

“Yes, it’s immoral to prey on a married patient, and to make such a big fuss about it, even if Dr. Tanaka isn’t suspended from duty, he’ll probably have to resign.”

Shirakawa Natsumi pouted. What a coincidence! These two nurses were gossiping in the corridor last week about this doctor named Tanaka.

I ran into them today, and they were gossiping again. Last time it was just a rumor, but this time it’s confirmed.

“Arina, doctor.” The two greeted Hashimoto Arina with smiles as they saw her helping Shirakawa Natsu over.

Hashimoto Arina returned the greeting with a smile, and the two had already sent out a notice about their gossip, so there was no problem.

Hashimoto Arina escorted Hyakukawa Natsu to his hospital bed, and after seeing him lie down, she gave him a few more instructions before leaving.

Over the next three days, Shirakawa Natsu finished drawing the entire “Tsuki ga Kirei” (The Moon is Beautiful). The final ending shows the male and female protagonists getting married and having children, standing together with their families and holding their children for a group photo.

Just like Hashimoto Arina said, the kind of love she longed for was simple and pure.

Shirakawa Natsu took the manuscript to Hashimoto Arina’s office. He was having some difficulty walking, but because he was in a good mood, he didn’t feel tired.

Pushing open the office door, Hashimoto Arina was lying on the desk. Seemingly sensing that the door had been opened, she quickly sat up from her seat.

In the instant she looked up, Shirakawa Natsu saw tears in her eyes, but she quickly covered them with her hand: “Sorry, sorry, I was half asleep at noon.”

As she spoke, she rubbed her eyes with her hand, and when she lowered her hand, her usual smile had returned as she looked at Shirakawa Natsu holding the manuscript:

“Wow, the finale has been released? Is it a happy ending for the whole family? If not, I absolutely cannot accept it.”