Just as Ryu's laughter faded, the soft clatter of footsteps echoed from down the corridor.
Aoki arrived first, looking remarkably chipper for the hour, followed by Tsuki, who was carefully carrying a bag filled with prescribed medicine.
Soho trailed beside her, a little pale and red-eyed, but no longer breaking.
There was a quiet strength in her posture now, like a mother holding herself together.
As soon as Aoki spotted Kana in her doctor's coat, he lit up like a lantern.
"Oh my, what brings you here, Kana?" he asked, beaming. "Is this where you work?"
Kana managed a small smile, still a little too stiff after her earlier blunder.. "Ah—No, I just have a really, really small clinic. I'm just shadowing some seniors tonight. I wanted to learn from the best."
As she says that she made sure she didn't look in Ryu's direction.
Venzel, of course, noticed. He gave a quiet snort and covered his grin with a cough.
Tsuki, meanwhile, looked up at the sound of Aoki's voice, and her eyes landed on Kana. Her whole face brightened.
She nudged Soho lightly with her elbow.
"Sister," she whispered conspiratorially, "that's my future daughter."
Soho turned toward Kana with tired but curious eyes.
Seeing the girl, standing awkwardly, blushing down to her neck sparked something lighter in her chest.
Her gaze flicked from Kana to Venzel, and a small smirk tugged at her lips.
"I think I understand now," she whispered back, "why your son suddenly agreed to inherit the farmland. How else is he going to raise hundreds of his babies if he doesn't start working now?"
Pfffft..
It was as if a wind had swept through the hall. All the males in the room, Venzel, Aoki, and even Ryu visibly flinched.
Venzel choked mid-breath. Aoki almost dropped his thermos.
And Ryu's eyebrows vanished into his hairline.
Kana's soul visibly left her body for a moment.
"W-Wha—" she stammered, cheeks blazing. "T-That's not—!"
Tsuki burst into open laughter, her voice ringing like wind chimes in the sterile hallway.
Soho joined in seconds later, shoulders shaking as she leaned into her sister.
Tsuki then stepped forward mid laughter and pressed the bag of medicine into Aoki's hands with theatrical flair.
"I've been carrying that all the way from the pharmacy. You've officially failed as a man."
Aoki blinked, caught off guard. "Huh? Didn't you say it was fine when we were at the shop?"
Tsuki gave him a sunny, unbothered smile. "Well, now I've changed my mind."
Then, without missing a beat, she turned and pulled Kana into a tight hug. "Ah, I missed you so much!"
Kana smiled and hugged her back just as tightly. "I missed you too, mom."
A second of silence passed.
Then Tsuki beamed like she'd just won a prize. "Mom, she says~"
Venzel coughed and looked anywhere but at them, ears tinged red.
Meanwhile, Soho had quietly moved to Ryu's side. Without a word, he slid his arm around her, and she leaned her head against his shoulder.
For a moment, no one spoke. There was just that quiet hush, tired smiles, soft breathing, and the unspoken relief of having made it through the worst.
Then—
Ding.
A soft system chime echoed in Venzel's ears, followed by a translucent panel flashing into existence before his eyes:
[ Quest: Hire Help ]
Task: Recruit Renji into the farm and get him to work.
Reward: Anti-Detox Pills x100
– Removes harmful substances from the body, including narcotics and lingering toxins. Helps purify the system and restore clarity over time.
Venzel stared at the screen. The timing was uncanny.
"Oh," he muttered under his breath, blinking.
Kana looked up at him. "Hmm?"
He shook his head slightly and gave her a small, noncommittal smile. "Nothing. Just… thinking about the future."
Venzel closed the system panel with a blink and tucked the thought away for later.
Earlier that hour, after the doctor had checked on Renji and confirmed he would recover with rest, a short list of medications was handed over…
"Nothing too strong," the doctor had said. "Just something to help flush out his system and support his recovery. Go ahead and grab these from the pharmacy."
Aoki had volunteered to drive, and Tsuki and Soho had gone along to help, perhaps just as much for the errand as for the chance to step away and breathe.
That had left Venzel and Ryu alone in the room with the quiet beeping of the machines and the gentle rise and fall of Renji's chest.
But after a few minutes, Ryu had stood and said, "Let's give him a little quiet. Talking in front of a patient, even if they're asleep… never feels right."
Venzel had agreed.
So they stepped out of the room and stood just outside in the hallway, leaning against the wall and speaking in low voices.
Now the group slowly moved toward the hospital room where Renji lay resting. The lights inside had been dimmed, casting a gentle glow across the bed.
Renji's face was still pale, but his breathing was calm, steady. The monitors beside him beeped in quiet rhythm, reassuring and constant.
Tsuki entered first, her steps light but sure. She approached the bedside and brushed a stray hair from Renji's forehead with a tender hand.
"Poor child," she murmured. "He looks so much like you, Soho, when he sleeps."
Soho managed a tired smile as she came to stand beside her sister.
"He used to crawl into our bed when he had nightmares," she whispered. "Until he was twelve."
Ryu pulled a chair closer for her, gently guiding her to sit. He remained behind her, his hand never leaving her shoulder.
Aoki, meanwhile, stood near the foot of the bed, arms crossed, watching the boy quietly.
"He's strong," he said after a pause. "He'll pull through."
Venzel hovered near the doorway, taking in the scene, his family gathered in quiet unity. The heaviness of earlier had thinned, replaced with a tired kind of peace.
But his eyes returned to Renji, and in his mind, that quest window flickered once again.
Beside him, Kana checked the time on her hospital ID badge and sighed.
"I've gotta go," she said softly, turning to him.
"Rounds are starting. I'm supposed to follow Dr. Harin tonight, and she doesn't like being late."
Venzel looked at her. "Got it. You'll do great."
Kana smiled, then reached up and gently straightened the collar of his shirt, her fingers lingering just a second too long.
"Call me when you leave, okay?"
He nodded. "I will."
She stepped away, then paused a few paces down the hall.
Glancing over her shoulder with a faint grin, she leaned in just enough for only Venzel to hear.
"I love you, hubby," she whispered, eyes twinkling.
Venzel's grin deepened as he murmured back, "Love you too, wifey."
Kana's smile softened into something brighter, more private.
Without another word, she turned and walked briskly down the hallway, her white coat fluttering slightly with each step, the gentle bounce of her stethoscope matching the quiet, bubbling joy in her chest.
From behind, Venzel could see the lightness in her stride like her feet barely touched the ground.
Venzel watched her until she disappeared around the corner, then slowly turned back to the hospital room, his gaze settling once more on his cousin.
"Alright," he murmured under his breath.
"Now how should I go about convincing your parents that working for me would actually heal you?"