* * *
Jin silently watched his attending physician scribbling furiously in her notebook. She called that notebook a 'chart.'
Every time Astrid pressed the strange device Lui had developed against his chest to listen to his breath sounds, she let out a small groan of 'Oh dear.' Today was no different.
It was somehow amusing. Even without his sharp insight, anyone could tell his condition was worsening day by day. Astrid simply had no talent for hiding her emotions.
And above all, he could feel it bone-deep himself. Breathing grew harder with each passing day.
Yet Astrid always lied. She claimed his condition wasn't improving or worsening. Even knowing he'd see through the lie. It must be her own clumsy way of being considerate—a white lie.
Jin leaned languidly against the bedpost, watching her. With her face half-covered by the mask, he couldn't read her fully, but observing her was truly entertaining.
Astrid seemed to write something in the air with her finger, then clapped with an 'Ah!' Jin smiled faintly, watching her with interest.
As if struck by an idea, she bolted out without a word of goodbye. Utterly incomprehensible behavior. What on earth was she thinking?
'What an interesting person.'
The knowledge she possessed seemed beyond his understanding. So he couldn't grasp her thoughts.
Yet she was poor at hiding emotions, making her feelings plain as day. That's what made her intriguing.
To Jin, Astrid Ober felt like an unsolved puzzle.
Yes, at first it was mere curiosity. But... lately, he found himself captivated by the lavender scent from her body and hair. Jin reached out, trying to grasp the fading fragrance... but.
Soon the scent dissipated. Jin chuckled and lay back in bed. A meaningless gesture.
"Jin."
It was Rishar's voice. Jin, about to nap, opened his eyes and leaned against the post again.
"Rishar, what's up?"
His friend's face above the mask looked quite bright. It had been nearly two months since he'd seen Rishar unmasked.
"Your complexion's improved a lot, Jin. Looks like Teacher Ober knows her stuff."
Rishar said.
Yes... outwardly, it seemed so. Since Astrid became his doctor, Jin's condition appeared to improve daily. Hemoptysis episodes had decreased too...
But there was a secret only Jin and Astrid knew. Despite the surface improvement, his actual state was deteriorating. Moment by moment, even now.
"...Yeah. She's a strange woman. Knows I'm dying soon, yet won't give up. First doctor to work this hard for me."
Jin smiled hollowly, and Rishar's eyes wavered. Rishar still couldn't let go of him. He shouldn't hold onto hope. It would only lead to greater despair.
"Jin, I..."
Moisture crept into Rishar's voice. Jin finished the words he'd heard countless times.
"I told you not to say weak things. Got it, Rishar."
Jin smiled feebly, and sorrow filled Rishar's eyes. A foolishly steadfast friend who couldn't hide his feelings.
After he was gone, Rishar would have to lead the Liberators...
'How can I rest in peace like this, Rishar.'
Grateful his friend couldn't read minds, Jin swallowed the words he couldn't voice.
They discussed Liberators' matters at length when a knock sounded. No one expected. Jin signaled Rishar to open the door.
"Teacher Ober, what brings you...?"
As the door opened, Astrid Ober stood in the doorway. Flushed and breathless from running, her face brimmed with joy.
"Ah, mask."
Astrid hurriedly donned her mask. Seeing an unmasked face felt so novel. Actually, a bit lonely. Everyone hiding half their faces around him.
"I thought of a great treatment, Rishar."
Astrid said excitedly. Jin perked his ears to listen. A great treatment?
"Put a bed in the Greenhouse. Have Jin spend his days there."
Rishar seemed not to grasp it easily. Even Jin found it puzzling.
"Um, so... plants release helpful components for Jin's illness during the day. Being in the Greenhouse should help a bit."
Greenhouse... He'd been confined to this room for quite a while. A prison without bars. Rishar hesitated at her explanation, but anywhere but here sounded good to Jin.
"Rishar, make it happen. It's been ages since I saw the Greenhouse too."
* * *
Moving Jin to the Greenhouse took more time than expected. The original one was too large and hard to manage, so we'd planted new ones in the small empty one next door.
I pored over the Great Dictionary of Herbal Medicine to find every plant even slightly beneficial for respiration.
Borage with its star-shaped purple flowers, anise with tiny white blooms in fan shapes. Plus bellflower imported from the eastern continent across the sea, and sweet honey herb from the distant Ocasium continent to the west.
They weren't lying about their wealth—Rishar easily procured rare flowers from other continents.
With planting the Greenhouse plants, plus installing Jin's bed, humidifier, and Lui's rushed air purifier, time flew by.
"Wipe that down thoroughly. Do it several times."
I was back in the Greenhouse today for Jin's move. Canopy bed installation just finished; people were wiping the posts with alcohol.
"Teacher Ober."
Turning at Rishar's voice, I saw him leaning against the wall, watching me.
"You're always so sensitive about cleaning."
Today too, I felt like a germaphobe. No, it wasn't my fault—Jin's fragility demanded it...
"Dust is fatal for respiratory patients. Gotta clean hard."
I cited visible dust instead of invisible germs or viruses. Fruits of two months' mental labor.
"I see. Ah, Teacher Ober. The clinic's ready. Want to see it?"
The clinic was my request to Rishar. Beyond Jin, many came injured from battles or Underground City digs. Treating them in my bedroom was inconvenient.
"Sure."
The new clinic was right across from the Greenhouse and lab. Perfect spot. Now I could work Rick and Lui harder... no, collaborate on research.
Three simple beds, bookshelves for charts, shelves of Rick-squeezed medicines. Great.
"Since you came, Teacher Ober, wound infections and suffering patients have dropped a lot. Recovery's faster too. Thank you."
Rishar said. Embarrassed at the praise for just hygiene, I fidgeted, staring at the floor.
Come to think, Rishar hadn't liked me much at first. Our meeting wasn't pleasant. I still recalled his gun to my head...
But lately, his attitude seemed gentler.
"Oh, and the wheelchair for Jin... it's complete. Wheelchair, right?"
Admiring the clinic, I perked up at Rishar's words. Greenhouse and Jin's room were a bit far; walking might exhaust him fatally.
So I'd sketched a wheelchair for Lui to make.
"Greenhouse ready, wheelchair ready. Shall we fetch Jin now?"
At my eager words, a small smile cracked Rishar's stoic face.
"Yes. You go ahead, Teacher Ober."
