[Hanahaki Disease]
Hanahaki Disease is a rare illness that develops in those who harbor intense feelings of love.

The stronger the patient's emotions for their beloved become, the more severe the symptoms grow. In the early stages, it is limited to coughing and bringing up petals, but as it progresses, the patient begins to cough up entire flowers. In even more severe cases, even light contact with the beloved or simply being near them can trigger symptoms, and the flowers coughed up drain the patient's vitality, gradually weakening them.

The flowers coughed up are the birth flowers of the person the patient loves.

Although the existence of Hanahaki Disease is known to the public, few people develop it, and it is regarded as a rare illness.

[Progression of Symptoms]
Mild: Coughing occurs. Petals are coughed up. A feeling of discomfort is felt in the throat.
Moderate: Entire flowers, not just petals, are coughed up. Physical strength gradually declines. Symptoms become more likely to appear when the patient is with their beloved.
Severe: Even light contact with the beloved can make the patient feel like coughing up flowers. Simply having the beloved nearby can trigger symptoms. The flowers coughed up drain the patient's vitality. Without treatment, the patient gradually weakens.

[Treatment]
To improve the symptoms of Hanahaki Disease, the patient must come to realize that they are loved by their beloved.

It is not enough for the beloved to simply love the patient; the patient themselves must recognize that this affection is "directed at them as romantic love" and believe it from the heart.

Therefore, strong expressions of love, kisses, hugs, and clear words such as "I like you," "I love you so much," and "I'm in love with you" can serve as triggers for treatment.

However, as long as the patient interprets this as "affection between friends," sufficient therapeutic effect cannot be obtained.

[Regarding a Complete Cure]
Hanahaki Disease is not an illness that can be completely cured.

By realizing that they are loved by their beloved, symptoms improve significantly and progression to a severe state can be suppressed. However, because the romantic feelings for the beloved do not disappear, the patient may cough up flowers again if their emotions become strongly heightened once more.
In other words, "treatment" for Hanahaki Disease does not mean erasing one's love, but rather learning that one's love is not unrequited, so that one can live carrying those feelings without being consumed by the flowers.