Arthur exhaled, leaning back in his chair as the silence settled back into the room. He glanced over at Charlotte, who was staring out the window again, her delicate hands resting on the blanket covering her legs.
"Hey," he said softly, breaking the quiet. "How are you feeling?"
She turned her head toward him and raised her hands, signing slowly. 'I'm fine. Are you okay?'
Arthur paused for a mont, caught off guard by her concern. Forcing a small smile, he said.
"I'm good, I'm feeling very well."
Charlotte didn't look entirely convinced, but she nodded slightly and turned her gaze back to the window.
Arthur stood, stretching his legs and glancing around the room. "You know," he said casually, trying to lift the mood, "after today, you'll officially be on the road to recovery. That's a pretty big deal, don't you think?"
Charlotte's lips curved into a faint smile. She nodded again but didn't respond further.
Arthur sighed inwardly, walking over to the small table by the window. He picked up the water jug and poured her a glass.
Placing it on the tray next to her, he said, "Drink this. Stay hydrated. It'll help."
She gave him a quick look but picked up the glass and took a small sip.
He smiled, sitting back on the chair. "Good," he said softly, but his stomach betrayed him with a loud grumble. He grimaced at the noise, rubbing his abdon. "Have you eaten anything?"
Charlotte nodded, her expression neutral but her gaze warm.
Arthur exhaled in relief. "Alright then," he said, pushing himself up from the chair. "I'll go grab sothing for myself and be back soon, okay?"
She nodded again, watching him leave.
In the hallway, Arthur spotted the sa nurse who had been checking on Charlotte earlier. "Excuse ," he called out, quickening his pace to catch up with her.
The nurse turned, giving him a polite smile. "Yes? How can I help you?"
"I wanted to ask," Arthur began, scratching the back of his head, "are there any foods Charlotte shouldn't have? Like anything that could affect her health negatively?"
The nurse's expression turned thoughtful, and she nodded.
"Yes, there are a few things she should avoid," she began. "First, try to avoid processed ats like bacon or sausages—they're not ideal, especially for her condition."
"Second, stay away from overly sugary foods or desserts, they can be harmful in excess. Lastly, anything extrely spicy might irritate her system."
Arthur listened attentively, nodding as he ntally noted her advice. "Got it. Thanks for letting know."
"You're welco," the nurse said with a smile. "If you have any other questions, feel free to ask."
Arthur left the hospital and headed to the nearby marksNspencer store. Inside, he checked the aisles, picking out a al. He added a bottle of water to his basket before heading to the checkout.
Returning to the hospital, Arthur entered Charlotte's room. Charlotte was still seated on the bed, her gaze warm as she glanced at him.
"Got sothing that looked luxurious," he said, holding up the container as he sat down in his chair. "Well, anything is luxurious for , heh. We used to survive on bread crumbs and water."
Arthur dug into his food, glancing at her between bites. "You sure you don't need anything?" he asked, though he already knew the answer.
She shook her head, her eyes softening.
After finishing his al, Arthur leaned back in his chair, letting his food digest.
His gaze moved to Charlotte, who was still lying on the bed, her eyes fixed on the window. The sunlight poured through, illuminating her pale complexion and giving her a peaceful glow.
An idea sparked in his mind. He sat up straight, a small grin on his lips. "Be right back," he muttered, standing and making his way to the door.
Arthur wandered through the hallway, looking for the nurse he had spoken to earlier. Spotting her by the nurses' office, he quickened his pace.
"Excuse ," he said, catching her attention. "I had a question."
The nurse turned to him with her usual kind smile. "Of course. What is it?"
"I was wondering if I could take my sister for a walk in the hospital garden. Just for a bit of fresh air. If walking isn't okay, can I use a wheelchair to take her?"
The nurse tilted her head thoughtfully. "Walking should be fine," she said after a mont. "Her treatnt hasn't started yet let alone progressed to that point, so it's okay for her to move around. Just make sure she doesn't push herself too much or tire out."
Arthur nodded, relief washing over him. "Got it. Thanks."
"You're welco. Enjoy your walk," she added with a smile as Arthur turned back towards Charlotte's room.
Re-entering the room, Arthur's grin widened. Charlotte glanced at him curiously.
"Wanna go for a walk?" he asked, excitent wrapped in his voice. "The sun's out today. It's rare these days, might as well enjoy it."
Charlotte blinked, her lips curving into the faintest of smiles as she nodded.
She slid off the bed with slow movents, steadying herself on her feet. Arthur moved closer instinctively, ready to support her if she needed it, but she waved him off gently.
"Alright," he said, gesturing towards the door. "Let's go."
...
After the peaceful walk with Charlotte, Arthur returned to the hospital room. He helped her lay down on the bed, tucking her in gently.
"Thanks," she signed simply, her face calm but appreciative.
Arthur gave her a small nod before his gaze drifted to the clock hanging on the wall. The soft ticking filled the room as he took in the ti. His thoughts turned inward.
'It's already getting late,' he mused. 'I can't afford to waste any more ti. If I don't level up soon or get a decent skill when I hit level 5, I won't be able to keep up. Worse, I might fail the hidden mission.'
His fists clenched slightly at the thought. 'No way am I letting that happen. Falling behind other players isn't an option.'
He glanced at Charlotte one last ti, confirming she was comfortable.
With her treatnt starting soon, he had to ensure she had everything she needed—but he also knew he had to keep pushing forward in the ga world. If he didn't grind and secure resources, he wouldn't be able to keep up.
Even with that pressure on him, he still made sure to spend ti with her. He had to make sure he was there for her, just paying for the treatnt wasn't enough. He had to be there for her emotionally too.
Glancing at Charlotte, he said gently. "I need to go back to the ga world for a while," his tone was calm but resolute. "There's a lot I need to do there to keep things on track."
Charlotte blinked at him, tilting her head slightly.
"I made sure everything's fine here before I go," he assured her. "The nurse said you're okay to rest, and if you need anything, just call for them, alright? You can use your phone if you get bored too, or the television."
She nodded slowly, signing, 'Don't push yourself too hard.'
A small smile tugged at his lips. "That goes for you too," he replied.
Monts later, he felt the familiar pull as the hospital room dissolved around him, transporting him back into the ga world where challenges and opportunities awaited him.
A notification surprised him imdiately.
[Your summon 'Hank' has respawned and is now available for summoning.]
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