Hirohiko had changed!
Hearing Hirohiko's suddenly icy tone, Chiba's heart nearly skipped a beat.
Even through the isolation cell's door, he could still sense the chilling coldness and hatred within. Clearly, whenever eyes were mentioned, Hirohiko's state of mind underwent a tremendous change.
From those words, Chiba also realized that Hirohiko had truly been considering his feelings just now, deliberately pretending to be calm and composed. In truth, his heart was already filled with hatred.
Darkness had already taken root in Hirohiko's heart.
Moreover, Hirohiko had been locked in the isolation cell for the past half year, with little contact with anyone. Coupled with the emotional upheaval brought by Nao's death, the hatred and darkness of having killed his beloved with his own hands constantly grew in that empty place. Chiba was somewhat afraid—afraid that Hirohiko had already reached a point beyond redemption.
At that moment, as his heart skipped that beat, his pulse abruptly quickened.
What if...
What if Hirohiko is already beyond saving? What should I do? A possibility he least wanted to consider surfaced in his heart.
For a moment, he froze where he stood, his face carrying a hint of stiffness and a faint, slightly surprised smile that had completely solidified.
No! Hirohiko's essence hasn't changed!
At the very least, he was still considering my emotions at first, still looking after my state of mind. He is still that Hirohiko—the Hirohiko who thinks of us, who treats us as close friends.
After something like this happened, his personality was bound to change. Of course he wouldn't remain calm when Nao's eyes were mentioned. I'm overthinking it!
At his core, Hirohiko is still Hirohiko. There is still that "love" in his heart. It's just that now, his heart also holds "hate."
*And isn't that hatred exactly what