The Hero Face-Down on the Floor
And so, this weekend was designated as "The Day to Meet Hero Sion." Coincidentally, there was a patient discharging that weekend, and we'd managed to have our turn yielded, so it doubled as the day Sion would be admitted to the center. Once her inpatient life began, the pointless rumors about us that had been openly circulating around the center would finally vanish completely.
"Sion. You okay for tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow's the big meeting day, right? Is there a problem?"
"Just wondering if you're scared to appear in front of people..."
"Huh? Why would I be?"
"Good, then. That's a relief."
It was a common symptom among those with trauma or mental anguish—social phobia—so I'd asked out of habit. But it seemed like needless worry on my part.
"Alright, let's focus now."
"Got it."
Strength training wasn't something rehab patients could do every single day. To ensure she could pour everything into tomorrow's event with Sion, I made sure to wrap up today's tasks thoroughly.
Sion lay prone on the mat spread across the floor. Standing exercises were still too much for her, but in this position, we could expect a full-body workout effect.
"Slowly lift your arms and legs, inhale as you do~"
"Nngh..."
From a resting position on her stomach, she lifted her left arm and right leg toward the sky as high as possible. It wasn't just limbs—it engaged her core muscles, including her waist, making it a true full-body move.
"Lower them slowly too, with focus. Exhale as you go down nice and easy~"
"Hoo..."
"Rest for three seconds, then again—one, two~"
"Nngh..."
Ten reps made a set, followed by a one-minute break. Three sets per cycle, alternating sides.
Sion concentrated silently on the exercise. To think I could squat beside her, gazing down at her trembling as she lay there lifting her limbs from the floor. She couldn't see my face from that angle, but with Mirei here, I had to manage my expression...
"Good job, Sion. One minute rest, then we'll go again."
"Haa... Is it really supposed to be this hard?"
"If it feels tough, you're doing it right."
Sion lay there, limbs splayed out limp as she caught her breath. Then, suddenly, she spun her body 180 degrees and flopped onto her back, staring up at the ceiling.
"Sion? What're you doing?"
"It hurts... it's getting squished."
Hurts? Had something new gone wrong with her body?
"Hurts? Where? What's wrong now?"
"Doctor."
I'd snapped back in surprise at her words, but it was Mirei—the nurse maid standing behind me—who tapped my shoulder and called out softly.
"Right here..."
She whispered so Sion couldn't hear, pointing discreetly to a spot on her own body.
Ah.
Mirei was indicating her chest. The part that only women had protruding forward.
Of course. Lying face-down must hurt for women. And in Sion's case, they were quite sizable...
Though I'd overseen rehab for countless patients, strength training with female ones was rare, so I'd never run into this before.
"Mirei."
"Yes."
I stood and gave her instructions in a whisper, low enough that Sion wouldn't catch it.
"Grab a cushion, would you? Something medium-sized to put under Sion's stomach."
"Right away."
Mirei headed off to fetch it. While waiting, I glanced down at Sion once more.
A slender frame wrapped in pristine white patient garb. Black hair with a faint purple sheen scattered in disarray. The parts that rose and fell with her breathing—the ones that hurt when compressed. Crimson eyes, unfocused on the ceiling, beads of sweat dotting her exhausted face.
To think this exquisitely beautiful, fragile, delicate body belonged to this world's hero, sprawled out like this...
"Doctor Hope?"
Had she noticed me looking? Sion peered up at me with a puzzled expression.
"Hasn't it been a minute yet?"
"Hold on a sec. We'll keep going once Mirei's back."
"More like, what exactly are you staring at right now?"
"Just checking if you're okay, obviously."
"Really?"
What had her so amused? She giggled, beaming ear to ear. It was obvious she was steering the conversation to paint me as some weirdo again.
"Doctor. Got it."
"Thanks, Mirei. Sion."
"Yes?"
Perfect timing—Mirei returned, so I placed the pillow-sized cushion beside Sion.
"What's this...?"
"Try lying face-down again. Put that under your stomach."
Sion rolled over, grabbed the cushion, positioned it under her belly, then resumed her prone pose with limbs extended front and back.
"Oh? This is way better. Doesn't hurt as much."
"It won't hurt with that, but you'll have to lift your limbs higher, so it'll be tougher."
"Still okay?"
"Let's give it a shot."
This was solid enough to count as equipment-assisted training, so as long as it wasn't too grueling for her, it should work fine.
"Nngaaah..."
Sion lifted her limbs with all her might once more.
"How's it feel? Manageable?"
"Yeah... somehow... it'll work!"
Thankfully, it wasn't too much strain—she finished the set unscathed and collapsed again, regulating her breathing.
"Haaaah!"
"Good. One more minute rest, then..."
This time, she stayed face-down without rolling aside. The cushion was doing its job; no pain.
If we wrapped the final set like this, today's session would end smoothly...
"Is that the hero?"
"?"
An intruding unfamiliar voice. I turned toward the sound to see a patient creeping closer, peering at the prone Sion.
What the hell? Where are the nurses and interns?
"We're in the middle of Sion's treatment, so please return to your spot."
"B-but, just one look at the hero..."
"You have to follow my instructions here at the center. Nurse!"
"Yes, Doctor!!"
"Escort this patient back to their place, quick."
"S-sorry!! Come on, back you go. Time for your treatment."
Word that the hero was at the center had spread once, so of course fans would show up. That's why we'd planned the event—but freeloaders were another story. How to handle them...
"The hero?"
"Looks like the hero's getting treated!"
"That's her, huh."
"Can't see her face well!"
I'd sent a staffer to shoo away the first intruder, but the commotion drew even more eyes. Now every patient in the gym, mid-rehab, swarmed our way all at once.
"Patients! Everyone back to your..."
"Doctor Hope."
Sion called up to me softly, gazing my way. As I sternly tried to disperse the crowd, she shook her head gently, smiling relaxedly as if to say no need.
"I'm fine. Could you let me just exchange quick greetings?"
"Haa..."
Don't read the room from flat on your stomach like that...
Sion wasn't the type to ignore people who sought her out, especially not a crowd this eager. Telling her no here wouldn't fly.
"Mirei."
"Yes, Doctor."
"Help Sion up into her wheelchair."
"Got it."
Since she couldn't rise on her own, Mirei lifted her and settled her into the chair.
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Hero Sion Laurel."
Now demurely seated, Sion waved to the gathered patients who'd come to see her.
"Ooh, the hero!"
"It's really her!"
"Thank you so much!!"
The patients approached with exclamations and greetings. They crowded around her seated form too densely, too close, so I had to wedge in and hold them back.
"Sion says it's okay, so I won't say more, but she's a patient too—no getting too close, and absolutely no touching."
Thankfully, they complied this time. They'd see plenty of her at tomorrow's event anyway—no need to make a fuss.
"I've fought so long that I ended up a patient myself."
"Glad you're not hurt bad."
"We were wondering how you were doing!"
"Seeing you struggle to move like this... wish you'd come for rehab sooner."
"Haha, yeah, tell me about it."
Despite the interruption to her training, Sion chatted amiably with the crowd—what had her so delighted?—beaming nonstop, fielding questions, sharing stories.
Her usual light smile as she conversed with everyone.
Sion. Hero Sion Laurel...
Master of the Holy Sword, supreme swordmaster of speed and power. Pinnacle adventurer. The demon king's nemesis, humanity's savior. In the endless war against the demonkin, people clung to hope and defended their homes because Sion and her comrades marched toward the Demon King's Castle.
Everyone swarmed her like meeting her was a once-in-a-lifetime stroke of luck, clamoring to get just a bit closer.
To me, too, Sion was a special patient. Knowing she'd once reigned at that peak made her current state all the more meaningful.
Hm...
But Sion... had she always smiled like that?
I thought I'd seen her smiles a thousand times, yet the one she wore now felt somehow... unfamiliar to me. Like I was seeing it for the first time.