In the Hospital

Hospital.

Chiba, her body wrapped in bandages, sat on the bed, looking utterly dejected.

On the bed next to him, Natsu was also wrapped in bandages, and his fate wasn't much better than Chiba's.

"I just got discharged from the hospital, and now I'm back in..."

Chiba sighed, feeling that life had lost its meaning.

The story begins yesterday when Chiba handed the Heart of Lava to Natsu.

His original intention was to have Natsu eat this thing to see if it could increase his magic power. However, after receiving the gift, the kid was so excited that he worshipped the Heart of Lava as a treasure. As a result, he sleepwalked and unleashed Fire Dragon's Roar, detonating the Heart of Lava and leveling their house along with the surrounding forest for hundreds of meters.

Chiba estimated that if Natsu consumed the Heart of Lava, it would definitely disrupt the 50/50 balance between him and Gray. This damned fate just pulled this stunt on him, and incidentally destroyed the Heart of Lava as well.

If Feiyin hadn't activated Chakra shield for them in time, they would probably be lying flat on the bed right now.

×××

I meant well, I wanted to make Natsu stronger, but fate seemed determined to keep Natsu and Gray evenly matched. So, two weeks after I was discharged from the hospital, I was hospitalized again.

January 8, 778.

After writing this passage in the thick notebook, Chiba put down the pen and paper.

He just had a sudden whim to record some of his experiences with pen and paper; otherwise, who knows if the world might erase him one day to keep things as they are? If that happens, at least it will take some effort to erase this book before erasing him.

"Squeak~"

The door opened at that moment, and a girl with long, crimson hair dressed in armor walked in, carrying two fruit baskets.

"Erza?" Chiba was somewhat surprised that it was Erza had come.

Where's my Mira?

"I heard you two were in the hospital, so I bought some fruit to come and see you. How are you? Are you alright?" Erza asked with a smile as she placed the fruit basket on the table beside her.

"It's nothing, just a few broken ribs." Chiba waved his hand, indicating that he didn't care at all.

Erza: "..."

Natsu turned his head away haughtily, choosing to ignore Erza.

"Natsu ~" Erza's face darkened.

"It's nothing serious... I just... feel a lot of pain all over my body..." Natsu said quickly, as if he wouldn't have a chance to speak if he spoke any slower.

"Remember to get plenty of rest," Erza advised.

"Mmm! Mmm!" Natsu nodded like a chick pecking at rice.

Chiba couldn't help but pick up his pen.

×××

By this time, Natsu was terrified of Erza. Although Natsu was still quite unhappy with Erza, he didn't dare to openly cause trouble anymore. I felt like I was seeing that humble Natsu from the TV show again.

Erza chatted with Chiba for a while, then said goodbye to the two of them, saying she had to go to work.

The two stared at each other for a moment, but this state was broken by the sound of the door opening.

It's Lisanna Elfman and... Grey.

Gray???

×××

By the way, Mira still hasn't come to see me.

"Brother Chiba, are you alright?" Lisanna ran to the bedside, blinked, and asked.

"Fine..."

"It's good that you're alright. Chiba -nii is so amazing, he'll definitely be fine. Actually..." she said, sticking out her tongue a little shyly, "We came to see Natsu."

Chiba: "???"

And so, to Chiba's incredulous gaze, the three of them gathered around Natsu's bedside.

Lisanna also seemed to have brought a large jar of chicken soup, which she then fed to Natsu spoonful by spoonful.

Of course, it was Gray who fed them.

However, to prevent the two from fighting, Lisanna took over feeding them after a while.

Chiba silently picked up the paper and pen.

×××

I admit I'm jealous. Okay, I don't have any best friends or childhood sweethearts. Right now, I kind of want to stew the Water King in soup and drink it.

But for some reason, Natsu suddenly angered Lisanna, and the little girl stormed out of the door. Elfman chased after her, while Gray stood there mocking Natsu, Natsu looked completely bewildered.

×××

Natsu, the straight-laced guy, has finally shown his true colors, driving away Lisanna's always been so good-natured. No wonder he never actually ended up with Lucy after over 300 episodes.

After mocking Natsu, Gray also left.

Then, Feiyin, who hadn't been inside Chiba's body, came here.

The girl, with her hair tied in a neat ponytail, carefully walked in carrying a basket. She sat down beside Chiba's bed, opened the basket, took out a box of pastries, swung her legs, and ate the pastries by herself, her big, bright eyes fixed on Chiba.

Chiba: "???"

"What are you doing here?" After staring at each other for a long time, Chiba finally couldn't help but blurt out a question.

"Eat something." Feiyin stuffed a pastry into her mouth and then reached into the basket.

"Why did you come to the hospital to eat?" Chiba asked.

"The house was bombed to the ground, so I had no choice but to come to the hospital," Feiyin said as she ate, swinging her slender, snow-white legs.

"?" Chiba really didn't understand her thought process.

"Speaking of which, you originally intended to use this body to be reborn, right?" Chiba suddenly asked.

"Hmm... more or less..." The little girl's mouth was stuffed with pastries.

"So, are you a man or a woman?" Chiba asked.

"I'm a woman, what makes me look like a man?" Feiyin rolled her eyes at him.

"But my body is male."

"Hmm... it seems so." The little girl looked a bit confused.

Looking at the bewildered little girl, Chiba couldn't help but ask, "You didn't even figure out your gender when you created this body, did you?"

Feiyin's face flushed red instantly. She stood up abruptly and said, "Nonsense... how could I possibly get my own gender wrong? I was just experiencing life!"

"Real?"

"Really!" the girl said firmly.

"You don't actually believe it yourself, do you?" Chiba couldn't help but laugh.

"Bang!"

Feiyin punched him in the stomach, and the latter's upper body collapsed onto the hospital bed.

"Hmph! You jerk! I knew I shouldn't have helped you!" Feiyin stomped her foot angrily, picked up her basket, and stormed out, slamming the door shut.

"Chiba, your sister is amazing!" Natsu's eyes lit up; he was completely impressed by Feiyin's strength.

After a long while, Chiba finally straightened up and picked up a pen and paper.

×××

I finally understood what had been bothering me: Feiyin was indeed a girl. Because I felt that even in her normal state, she could easily open my skull.

"Why did Feiyin run out in such a huff?" Mira walked in at that moment.

"How should I know?" Chiba rubbed his stomach, then looked toward the doorway.

He was stunned.