Ch 143. Kasumigaoka Utaha's Depression

After that, Kasumigaoka became very clingy, far beyond imagination. Whenever they entered the dream, they were almost inseparable.

After some time, Hoshimi found himself somewhat overwhelmed...

Although the dream was a dream, it did affect reality to a certain extent.

During that period, the first thing Hoshimi did every morning wasn't stretching or exercising but going straight to the bathroom...

Over time, he couldn't help but think that he needed to take a break and rest, and then Kasumigaoka was suddenly replaced by a newcomer...

Thinking about it, the problem must be with Kasumigaoka herself?

Hoshimi's expression became somewhat complex as he reached this conclusion. He covertly glanced at Kasumigaoka Utaha, with a hint of something unusual hidden deep in his eyes.

"Hoshimi, how come you can now control who stays or leaves in the dream?" Kasumigaoka continued to ask.

At this moment, she didn't know what was going on in Hoshimi's mind.

If she did, she would probably want to have a life-and-death struggle with this thick-skinned idiot Hoshimi!

"I've lifted some restrictions, or you could say I've learned some things," Hoshimi vaguely explained.

Kasumigaoka frowned. "Hmm? Can you be more specific?"

"It's a bit difficult. It involves the secrets of the dream, which I can't really disclose."

"Oh? If you can't say, then don't. I don't really want to hear it anyway."

Kasumigaoka Utaha coldly retorted and then fell silent, looking at the scenery.

Hoshimi didn't plan to say more about his dream. He changed the subject and said, "Utaha, I'm sorry for what happened before."

"What incident? There are quite a few things you should apologize for. I don't know which one you're referring to." Kasumigaoka's lips curled into a smirk.

Hoshimi's gaze drifted. "The experiment..."

Kasumigaoka's expression stiffened, and her smile gradually faded. She lowered her gaze and said, "The experiment also had my own issues. It's not entirely your fault."

If it weren't for her sudden impulse to suggest that experiment and her stubbornness in letting Hoshimi test it on her, the result wouldn't have turned out like that.

This really was a case of testing it out leading to unfortunate consequences...

"It's great that you think that way, Utaha. Speaking of which, I also think it's partly your fault. Despite my strict adherence to moral standards, you insisted on making me do that experiment. It made my conscience uneasy."

"..." Kasumigaoka Utaha smiled in anger. She tightened her grip on the railing, turned her head to look at Hoshimi, and said with a cold smile, "Hoshimi, can you have some decency?!"

"Haha~ I'm just kidding. Let's share the responsibility equally. I'm at fault, and you are too," Hoshimi said, turning around and leaning against the railing with a carefree smile.

"Hmph!" Kasumigaoka snorted coldly and turned back to continue looking at the scenery.

Half a year had passed, and Hoshimi's nature hadn't changed at all.

"Utaha, do you want to hold hands?" Hoshimi suddenly asked.

"No." Kasumigaoka Utaha decisively refused.

"Alright." Hoshimi thought for a moment and then asked, "Utaha, did anything happen to you after you left my dream?"

"Yes, I was depressed for a while."

"Uh..." Hoshimi was taken aback and tentatively asked, "Really?"

"Yes, really. Mild depression, persistent low mood, lack of energy, and disinterest in everything except for getting revenge on you."

Hoshimi fell silent.

This was indeed a serious matter...

"Utaha, how long were you depressed? How did you recover?" Hoshimi asked.

"For about three months. As for the recovery..." Kasumigaoka Utaha turned to look at Hoshimi and said coldly, "After being depressed for half a month, my mother noticed something was wrong with me. She took me to see a female psychologist."

"That female doctor said I was heartbroken. Hoshimi, isn't that funny? I've never been in a relationship."

Kasumigaoka couldn't smile, and Hoshimi's mouth twitched, unable to smile either.

"When the diagnosis came out, the doctor judged it as mild depression and recommended that I go home and adjust myself, relax, maintain good living habits, and chat more with friends to avoid being alone."

"I had no friends, so during that time, it was my mother who constantly talked to me."

"She graduated from the literature department at Keio University, and though she could speak well, it didn't change the fact that I found her very annoying."

"After my mother's continuous and earnest teachings for half a month, I successfully progressed from mild depression to moderate depression."

Hoshimi almost laughed. He glanced at the stern-faced Kasumigaoka Utaha, thought about it, and suppressed his laughter.

He couldn't laugh; doing so would offend not only Kasumigaoka Utaha but also his future mother-in-law.

His future mother-in-law was indeed talented, turning mild depression into moderate depression through conversation.

"My mother saw that the situation had worsened and took me to see that female doctor again."

"The female doctor, after learning the situation, laughed, and she laughed very happily. It seemed she was classmates with my mother and spent her time teasing her while leaving me aside."

"At that moment, I suddenly felt like I had become severely depressed."

"However, as it turned out, it was just an illusion. Moderate depression remained moderate depression; nothing changed."

"After the female doctor finished laughing, she didn't prescribe any medication. Instead, she told me to come to her house for an hour or two every evening."

"I went there continuously for two months, and the depression was successfully cured."

"Hoshimi, do you know how that female doctor guided me?"

Hoshimi shook his head. He was good at understanding people but wasn't a psychologist, so he didn't know the methods of psychologists.

But he was quite skilled at creating trouble for psychologists.

Kasumigaoka continued, "At first, the female doctor, whether out of her own curiosity or on my mother's request, kept asking indirect questions about my previous romantic partner."

"Do you think I would have revealed your existence?"

Hoshimi shook his head. If he had revealed it, the doctor's judgment might not have been depression but something more severe.

"Yes, I wouldn't say, but that female doctor was so skilled at inducing and setting traps that I inadvertently mentioned two characters from your name. Can you guess which two?"

Hoshimi thought for a moment and said, "Hoshi + Kiyo, Hoshi + Kawa, Mi + Kiyo, Mi + Kawa. Only these four possibilities, right?"

Kasumigaoka made it clear that she had mentioned two characters from the name, implying that she hadn't mentioned the surname or given the full name but had randomly combined two characters from the name.

"Hoshimi, you're really smart. I asked you which two, and you listed all possibilities for me to choose from. In an exam, that would be zero points. Do you understand?"

Hoshimi turned to Kasumigaoka Utaha and said, "But this isn't an exam."

"Right, it's not an exam. So I'll tell you the answer: Hoshi + Kawa." Kasumigaoka Utaha met Hoshimi's gaze seriously and said, "Hoshimi, next time don't be so crafty. I want to hear the correct answer."

As soon as Kasumigaoka said this, Hoshimi understood immediately.

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