Morning sunlight entered the hospital room through the curtains.
Vash slowly opened his eyes.
For a few seconds, he simply stared at the ceiling.
Then he remembered yesterday.
The system.
The status screen.
The rehabilitation.
And the ten steps.
He looked toward the transparent interface.
[ORDINARY SYSTEM]
Strength: 6/10
Agility: 5/10
Endurance: 4/10
Vash smiled slightly.
"Still the same."
[Correct.]
"You're very encouraging."
[Statement noted.]
Vash shook his head.
Before he could say anything else, the door opened.
His grandmother walked inside carrying breakfast.
"Good morning."
"Morning, Grandma."
She placed the food on the table.
"You slept well?"
"Yes."
She smiled.
"That's good."
Vash looked at her.
"Grandma?"
"Hmm?"
"Yesterday... you said I had a visitor?"
She nodded.
"Someone is coming today."
"Who?"
She smiled.
"Wait and see."
---
A little later, there was a knock on the door.
Vash looked toward the entrance.
The door opened.
A boy stood there.
He was taller than Vash remembered.
His hair was messier.
His shoulders were broader.
But Vash recognized him immediately.
"Rohan?"
Rohan froze.
For several seconds, neither of them spoke.
Then Rohan's eyes became wet.
"You're finally awake, idiot."
Vash smiled.
"You're still ugly."
Rohan laughed.
"Yeah. And you're still annoying."
He walked quickly toward the bed.
The two friends hugged.
Vash's body hurt from the movement, but he didn't care.
For the first time in two years, he was hugging his best friend again.
Rohan pulled away and looked at him.
"You really woke up."
"Looks like it."
"I thought you were going to sleep forever."
Vash laughed softly.
"Sorry. I overslept."
Rohan laughed.
Then both of them became quiet.
There were too many things to say.
Two years was a long time.
Vash looked at him carefully.
"You've changed."
"So have you."
Vash looked down at his thin arms.
"Not in a good way."
Rohan shook his head.
"Don't worry. We'll fix that."
"We?"
"Of course."
Vash smiled.
Then his expression became serious.
"Rohan..."
"Yeah?"
"Priya."
Rohan's smile disappeared.
He sat down beside the bed.
Vash waited.
"What happened to her?"
Rohan looked at the floor.
"She's okay."
Vash released a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.
"Where is she?"
"She doesn't live here anymore."
Vash looked confused.
"What happened?"
Rohan hesitated.
"After the accident, she blamed herself."
Vash remembered the road.
The truck.
Her frightened face.
"She came to the hospital a lot at first," Rohan continued. "Almost every day."
Vash stayed silent.
"But every time she saw you, she cried."
He looked toward Vash.
"Eventually, her parents moved away. They thought a new place might help her."
Vash lowered his eyes.
"Does she know I'm awake?"
"I don't think so."
Vash nodded slowly.
He didn't know what to feel.
"She's safe."
Rohan smiled faintly.
"That's what matters."
Vash looked toward the window.
He remembered the thought he had before losing consciousness.
Priya is safe.
That had been enough for him then.
It was enough now.
---
After some time, Rohan suddenly asked,
"So... what grade are you in?"
Vash blinked.
"What?"
"School."
Vash stared at him.
"I don't know."
Rohan laughed.
"We were in Class 8 when the accident happened."
Vash's eyes widened.
"And now?"
"Class 10."
Vash became quiet.
Two years.
He had missed two entire school years.
"Wow."
Rohan leaned back.
"Don't worry about it."
"Easy for you to say."
"You're alive. That's what matters."
Vash smiled.
"Still giving annoying advice."
"Someone has to."
---
Later that afternoon, the doctor examined Vash.
He checked Vash's arms and legs, asked him to move his fingers and feet, and watched him carefully.
"Your recovery is going better than expected," the doctor said.
Vash smiled.
"Can I go home?"
The doctor looked at his grandparents.
"Yes. But he needs regular rehabilitation."
His grandmother nodded immediately.
"We'll take care of him."
"The exercises must be done every day," the doctor continued. "He shouldn't push himself too hard. His body has been inactive for a long time."
Vash nodded.
"How long will recovery take?"
The doctor smiled slightly.
"That depends on you."
Rohan immediately spoke.
"Then I'll help him."
Vash looked at him.
"You?"
"Yes."
"You're going to make me exercise?"
"Every day."
Vash sighed.
"I take back what I said about missing you."
Rohan laughed.
---
The next morning, Vash left the hospital.
His grandmother helped him into the car.
His grandfather waited outside.
For the first time in two years, Vash was going home.
The restaurant looked almost the same.
The faded sign.
The old refrigerator.
The six wooden tables.
But everything seemed smaller than he remembered.
Vash stared at the sign.
GRANDPA'S NOODLES
His grandfather smiled.
"Welcome home."
Vash smiled back.
"Feels good."
Inside, his grandmother prepared his room.
It wasn't large.
But it was his.
Vash sat on the bed and looked around.
Two years had passed.
The world had changed.
But somehow, this place still felt like home.
Then the transparent screen appeared.
[NEW DAILY TASKS GENERATED.]
Vash opened it.
[Daily Tasks — Day 2]
1. Walk 15 steps.
2. Complete 5 minutes of rehabilitation exercises.
3. Drink 500 ml of water.
4. Read for 15 minutes.
5. Write three sentences about your recovery.
Minimum Completion: 2 Tasks
Vash stared at the first task.
Yesterday: 10 steps.
Today: 15.
He smiled.
"You're not wasting any time, are you?"
[Correct.]
Vash looked toward the doorway.
Rohan was standing there.
"Ready?"
Vash looked at him.
"Ready for what?"
"Your first day of training."
Vash sighed.
"Maybe I should've stayed in the hospital."
Rohan grinned.
"Too late."
Vash laughed.
For the first time in two years, he wasn't facing the future alone.
And somewhere inside his mind, the Ordinary System quietly recorded his next step.
[Recovery begins.]