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“Next week, I have a business trip. This time it’s for four days.”

“It’s been 3 years and 3 months since the rehabilitation center was established in the kingdom.”

“Rehabilitation medicine, which gained global attention after the war, is now recognized as an essential element in restoring post-war society, making the establishment and expansion of more rehabilitation centers a long-cherished goal for various countries.”

“Besides the Empire and the Holy State, rehabilitation centers are being set up one after another in countries around the world, and each center finds itself in need of my help as the world’s one and only rehabilitation specialist.”

“Unlike during the time when I could immediately check on conditions in the Empire or Holy State, there are so many newly established centers now that I’ve had to plan my business trips separately.”

“I’m really looking forward to this business trip.”

“Looking forward to it? Why would Zion be excited about me going on a business trip?”

“Well, if it’s an overseas trip, I’ll get to go along, right? I wonder which country we’ll be heading to~”

Zion, sitting on the bed, was grinning and shaking his shoulders.

Of course, since Zion is a hero, there’s no reason to refuse him, and with the Magic Tower available, it would be fine to take him along on the trip…

“But this time, we need to go to Kingdom No. 2 Rehabilitation Center. It’s in the southern Behem region of Norden.”

“This business trip is domestic.”

“Under the king’s orders, I’ll be sending my trained residents from the capital to a distant area to establish a separate rehabilitation center, so I’m going there for an inspection.”

“Oh, that place…”

“It’ll take about 8 hours to get there, and we’ll have to cross mountains. That’s why I planned the schedule for four days instead of three.”

A rough and long journey over mountains by wagon. There was no way I could take Zion, who was physically unwell, there.

“So this time, I’ll be going alone. You stay here, Zion.”

“….”

Zion lowered his head with a sullen expression upon hearing that I would go alone.

“Can’t I go with you? I can bear it even if it’s hard…”

I expected he would insist on going. It was in line with what I thought Zion would say.

As Zion said, if he could just endure it, it would be a tough journey, but certainly not impossible. It’s definitely true, but…

“You need to rest here. There’s no reason to go out of your way to a difficult place.”

“But…!”

“This is my opinion as a rehabilitation expert. If you push yourself too hard, your body can react poorly. You just returned from convalescence for buff addiction treatment, so I think it would be better not to strain yourself unnecessarily.”

Just as I said to Zion, I didn’t want to make him do anything difficult.

The mental condition closely follows the physical state.

Zion’s mind being unstable was largely due to the fact that it had been over three years since his body broke down.

With physical fatigue, we can’t predict what could happen, so there’s no reason to take the risk of bringing Zion along on a business trip.

“If Hop Harvey is saying that…”

Though somewhat disheartened, Zion seemed to have reluctantly accepted it.

That’s a relief for now, but is there anything else I could say to prevent Zion from feeling anxious while we’re apart?

“It’s just for four days. It feels so short, like a dream; it’s only half of the convalescence period. Just wait, and I’ll be back before you know it.”

Clearly establishing the return date can help Zion endure it. This is one of the effective methods for patients with separation anxiety.

This was about all I could do for now. In fact, I still didn’t know if Zion actually had separation anxiety, so I guess I would find out for sure this time.

“I got it, so don’t worry and just go. But you can’t cry at night just because I’m not here!”

“Who would say something like that…”

Is Zion trying to hide his anxiety from me, thinking I’d worry?

No, it’s me who’s feeling anxious instead.

We both conceal our worries and smile at each other, trying not to make the other feel uneasy.

The fact that we need to be apart for a while doesn’t change; we just need to do our best within the situation we’re given.

Heroes and rehabilitation experts live like that. Actually, anyone who’s human probably does.

Anyway, these next four days without me… I can only hope nothing happens to Zion.

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Today is the day Hop Harvey goes on his business trip.

I thought about going out to see him off until the wagon, but… it seemed like Hop Harvey was worried I’d feel anxious in his absence, so I decided against it.

If I show him I’m cool about it, that might make him worry a little less, right?

Hop Harvey is busy traveling to help many people; I can’t burden him with unnecessary worries.

It’s not about doing anything difficult; it’s just waiting for Hop Harvey for four days.

If it’s waiting patiently, that’s one of the things I’m good at.

“Haah…”

Thinking that Hop Harvey won’t be at the center makes me feel even more anxious.

Don’t think about it, Zion. In fact, it’s not like I’d get to see Hop Harvey now even if he were working at the center, right?

Right now, it’s his time to treat the patients.

I always rest and wait for Hop Harvey here.

This time, I’ll just wait as usual. If I wait, Hop Harvey will come back.

Four days. Just three more nights of sleep and…

‘Three nights? How childish does that sound?’

Anyway, I need to calm down and wait patiently.

But why does time seem to crawl by so slowly?

I wish I could fall into a deep sleep for four days without waking up.

Like I was cursed and Hop Harvey would come to save me from a never-ending sleep.

Is this a story from a fairytale? What am I even thinking…

But then, as a hero, I was always the one going to save people; this time, can I choose to wait?

Could it be that I’m finally a heroine…

No, wait. I shouldn’t expect Hop Harvey to come rescue me since he’s weak.

Besides, I’m not cursed, right? I’d heard that was a huge hassle for Hop Harvey.

Anyway, I’ll do my best to rehabilitate myself, and then I’ll do whatever I can.

This rehabilitation is to prepare for the return of the Demon King and the war he’ll bring.

Stay strong, Zion.

There’s no need to get anxious just because the teacher is gone for a few days.

Ah, but even if I try to fill the time with pointless thoughts, time just won’t pass!

I could shut my eyes and lie still, but then I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night.

Hop Harvey manages to take care of his workload by only sleeping three hours a day and living a thoroughly regular life.

But it’s unacceptable for me not to be able to keep a regular sleep schedule while just focusing on recovery.

The sleeping time of the inpatients is something Hop Harvey oversees as well.

The hospital’s lighting schedule is also part of the prescription, so I can’t just mess it up.

That’s it! Since four days is too long, I’ll set smaller goals.

For now, until tonight. I’ll aim to just get through each day.

Once night comes, I can sleep, and when I wake up, another day will have passed. Just focus on today. I’ll somehow get through today…

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As night falls, my whole body starts to tremble.

What did Hop Harvey look like again?

I usually see hallucinations of my companions just fine, but why can’t I see a hallucination of the teacher?

I deeply regret not going to see him off this morning.

I should’ve met him beforehand.

I should’ve seen his face and confirmed it.

What a fool I am…

Because of my ridiculous bravado, I’m in this state…

But to be this anxious and trembling over just my teacher going on a business trip, how absurd.

I managed just fine when left alone on the battlefield, didn’t I, Zion?

Yeah, let’s think of it as a battle. It’s been a life of fighting.

In battle or war, I can endure somehow. I’m a hero, after all!

But right now, what exactly am I fighting against?

Ah, it’s getting harder to understand.

Was I able to endure back then because I moved without thinking?

Now, since I can’t move at all, I can only focus on my thoughts.

And the more I think, the more loneliness swells within me.

Even if I set off right now to go see Hop Harvey, it would still take eight hours before I could see him.

That unbearable distance suffocates me.

Moreover, with this body that I can’t move properly, there’s no way for me to go see him myself.

I feel an unbearable sense of helplessness, as if I want to tear my body apart.

When some part of my body hurts, I sometimes feel like I’d prefer to just cut it out.

Right now, I feel that way throughout my whole body.

– Grugruug…

The ladybug cushion in my arms…

I almost ripped this apart without realizing it. Should I be grateful that I don’t have any strength in my arms?

This is a precious gift from Hop Harvey. I mustn’t break it.

A treasured item I received to commemorate our 50 days together.

Speaking of which, how many days has it been since we met?

Three months have passed, so it should be nearly 100 days, right?

The calendar. Let me look at the calendar. I don’t remember the exact date we met, but I do recall it was a Saturday when I received this gift, so even a fool like me can narrow it down quickly.

Checking, today marks… the 97th day since we met. So that means…?

“Hop Harvey will return on the 100th day since we met? Seriously? This might just be an opportunity!”

In an instant, my trembling lessens, and I feel a chilling calmness wash over me.

An oddly tranquil feeling.

Ah, I know this feeling.

It’s the sensation when you decide to do something for someone else.

Every time I awakened as a hero, I felt this way.

No matter how trivial, it seems I could only grow stronger for someone else.

Though Hop Harvey isn’t by my side now, I somehow feel like I’ve received help again.

Thank you, Hop Harvey. Thanks to you this time, I…

“So what should my 100-day gift be?”

It feels like I’ve taken another small step forward.

As I think about what gift to choose, I feel some strength returning to my body, and I sense a growing joy.

Teacher. My Hop Harvey.

Yet I’m here right now, missing you terribly.

Thinking of the memories of you brings certain images to mind.

Somewhat blunt yet ever bright,

Pretending to be laid-back but seemingly always troubled,

Acting indifferent yet always watching over me,

The faces of the teacher I adore…

Hop Harvey. Please come back quickly.

The longer I don’t see you, the more anxious I feel that I might forget those faces.

So please,

I’m desperately praying that you’ll come back to me as soon as possible.

 

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