Reunion in Praine (2)
Praine business trip, day one. This trip was a tight three-day schedule, so we had to keep moving without a moment to spare. After the dinner with the pope at the papal palace, the plan was to head to the Praine Holy Nation Rehab Center and inspect its operations. The meal had just ended, and now Sion and I were heading toward the center's entrance.
"Mr. Hope."
"Yes?"
"What do you think the pope meant by that 'pleasant reunion'?"
"Hm... someone connected to you, maybe?"
"Me?"
"I don't have much of a network, after all."
"A pleasant reunion..."
Unlike me—who'd jumped straight from my hometown into medical volunteer work and devoted my life to rehabilitation medicine, leaving no time for making friends—Sion had met countless people across her many adventures.
"There are too many possibilities. I have no idea."
"Yeah, we'll find out when we meet them, I suppose."
The carriage arrived at the center. I got out first and helped Sion down into her wheelchair.
The Praine Holy Nation Rehab Center. It wasn't as large or systematic as the one in the empire, but true to Praine's nature, the rehabilitation proceeded in a solemn, dignified atmosphere.
"Please wait a moment. I'll fetch the director for you."
As soon as I arrived, nurse maids approached. One stuck by my side to guide me through the center, while the other headed down to the training room to summon the director.
The director appeared promptly, guided by the nurse maid—and she was an even tinier woman than her guide. Dressed in white priestly robes and a high priestess hat, with long brown twin tails cascading down and pale green eyes...
"Ah, h-hello..."
An elf?
"I'm Hanamana, director of the Praine Holy Nation Rehabilitation Medicine Center..."
"Hanamana!!"
"Eh? Sion?!"
Incredibly, the director of the Praine Holy Nation Rehabilitation Medicine Center was Hanamana, the elf priestess from the hero party. Was she the "pleasant reunion" the pope had mentioned?
Sion waved her right hand vigorously at the sight of Hanamana, shaking her wheelchair in her exuberant greeting.
"Sion, why are you here with him?"
"I'm helping with Sion's rehab."
"Ah, you're...?"
"I'm Hope Harvey, director of the Nodun Kingdom Rehab Medical Center."
"W-Wow! Sorry for not recognizing you!!"
Hanamana's personality was exactly as straightforward and true-to-form as I'd read in the book. An elf who'd unusually chosen the path of priesthood. She had aptitude for all magic, including rare holy and dark affinities for an elf, and real skill to back it up—yet she lacked confidence, was always flustered and mistake-prone. Pessimistic about everything, claiming she couldn't do anything, but like Sion's comrade, she was an indefatigable hard worker who never gave up.
"You're the center's director, Hanamana?"
"Y-Yeah... I managed somehow..."
"Hanamana's amazing! You've been studying rehabilitation medicine?"
"Yeees. I... heard you were hurt, Sion. From Nao..."
"......"
So Hanamana... had heard about Sion's condition from Nao, studied rehabilitation medicine to treat her, and climbed all the way to director of the Praine center?
"I was planning to go fetch you from the empire once I became director... but yeah..."
Her face grew gloomier with every word.
"H-Hanamana?"
"I figured someone like me could never become director anyway, but I worked hard and somehow got the center... and then..."
Tears were already welling up in her small, round pale green eyes.
"To find out you were already rehabbing in the kingdom..."
Her tears were on the verge of spilling. Seeing Hanamana's explosive side straight out of the book the moment we met was surreal—but the conversation seemed to be heading in a direction that boded ill for me, and a bad premonition crept in.
And the one phrase she sobbed out was...
"I'm so relieved~~"
Unexpectedly—and fortunately—not a word of resentment toward me.
"The kingdom's rehab senior is way more amazing than someone like me, so he'll definitely fix you up! I obviously couldn't have treated you properly anyway, so this is really for the best~~ Waaah~~"
Sobbing her heart out that this was a relief. Thanks to Hanamana's center-shaking wails, every eye in the place was on us.
It was incredibly awkward, and no one dared approach her easily. Amid the chaos, Sion beside me tapped my back to get my attention.
"Sion?"
"Mr. Hope. Could you buff me for a bit? I want to stand up, just for a moment."
A buff... Based on the sensitivity readings from last time, a short-term buff just strong enough to let her stand with support wouldn't be a big issue.
"Power."
"Thank you, sir."
"Hold my hand and stand. You can't do it alone yet."
"Got it."
Clutching my outstretched hand, she rose shakily on trembling limbs.
"Could you bring me to Hanamana?"
I nodded at her request and led her by our joined hands to the weeping Hanamana.
Arriving in front of Hanamana, Sion lunged forward, embracing her in a way that enveloped the smaller woman completely.
"S-Sion?!"
With her tinier frame, it looked like Sion was smothering Hanamana in a hug.
"Hanamana. You've worked to heal me again. I'm so happy."
"But someone like me..."
"Even saying that, you always healed me. You definitely could have done it this time too."
"Sion..."
"How many times... how many times have you saved me, Hanamana? The world thanks me for their salvation, but the one who saved my life was always you."
Influenced by Sion's calm, eyes-closed words, Hanamana was gradually settling down. Her sobs had quieted to occasional hiccups.
"Saving me, saving everyone... and now director of a rehab center. You always save people, Hanamana. I'm so glad you're my comrade. I'm always proud of you."
"Siooon..."
"So no more crying, okay? How many times have I told you to stay strong—you're a hero just like me?"
"Uuu..."
Hanamana stifled a fresh wave of tears and raised her arms to hug Sion back.
"If Sion says so, I'll listen..."
"Hehe, 200 years old and still such a kid, Hanamana."
"D-Don't mention my age, Sion!!"
Just over 200—not old for an elf, but mentioning it mortified her. She squirmed and playfully thumped Sion's back like giggling schoolgirls.
"!?"
What the hell...?
"Haha, Hanamana, honestly."
"Don't hit me!! How can you hit a patient?! Don't you know how weak Sion is right now?"
"W-Wahhh!!"
I yelped in surprise, and Hanamana jumped, frantically rubbing the spot she'd thumped with quick hands.
"S-Sorry!!"
"Don't rub it either!!"
"Waaah!!!"
"Sir, I'm fine..."
"Sion, stay still!"
The atmosphere turned hostile in seconds. Hanamana squeezed Sion tight, eyes shut, trembling.
How did this even...?
"Hanamana. Aren't you this center's director?"
"Well, yeah..."
"Then how could you do that?! What if Sion gets hurt—how will you take responsibility?!"
"Sorry, sorry, sorry... I guess someone like me really can't be a proper director after all... I'll resign and leave right now, so please forgive me..."
"What... did you say?"
My chest tightened, my head went blank—I couldn't think of what to say next. Was this really what Hanamana's personality felt like in person?
Sion and Hanamana both so frustratingly dense—yet the novel portrayed them that way. It seemed every hero party member had some infuriating trait that drove bystanders mad when they weren't together.
"If Hanamana resigns over me, the pope will be thrilled."
"It's not your fault, senior—it's because I'm inadequate..."
"Senior?"
"I mean... as a junior rehab specialist... maybe I deserve it?"
"Haaa..."
Being called "senior" by a 200-year-old elf out of nowhere. My headache worsened.
But I had to regain my composure.
Stay calm. If I get swept up too, it's over.
Right, Hanamana. You want to be my junior? Fine.
"Hanamana."
"Y-Yes!"
"I'm here to inspect this center and fix any issues. You know that, right?"
"Yes, I do."
"I agree you're not a proper director. Treating patients like that—who could think that's okay?"
"I knew it... Someone like me..."
Grilling her like this stirred memories from my past life.
"Um... Mr. Hope? Don't be too harsh on Hanamana..."
"Sion, stay out of it. This is for her own good."
"Huh?"
"She gets away with acting childish because you always indulge her. Got it?"
"B-But..."
Medical school hierarchies mattered more than grades. Memories of roasting lagging interns during residency bubbled up.
Damn... nostalgic, but I didn't want to relive it.
"Hanamana."
"Yes, senior!"
"From what I've seen, you're the center's biggest problem. So over these three days I'm here, I'll rehab you into a proper specialist. Understood?"
"H-Hueeeng~"
Crying now wouldn't help. She'd called me senior, so she needed to learn what being my junior meant.