The pain shot up my arm like fire. I cringed and staggered towards the pathway leaving to Westown. I couldn't go home yet… I had to buy seeds… I couldn't slack. Everywhere hurt. The pain exploded in my head like a burning whiteness.

Witchie had been eager to play around after she had awaken, Dessie was just as eager too, not expecting Witchie to be so rough. Or maybe Witchie's roughness was nothing on a Goddess compared to a tired farmer. After a while of playing simple childish games Witchie grew bored and insisted on bringing their magical powers into the games to make things more 'fun'. I assumed she was joking when she suggested playing a game called 'avoid getting turned into a frog' until her bolt of magic narrowly avoided me and turned a vase behind me into a confused, croaking amphibian. This turn of events only excited Witchie and encouraged her to play more games centered around avoiding magic, despite myself trying to insist that I had to leave to get back to my farm.

I bend over to catch my breath. I really didn't feel good. If I could just get the things I needed to get from Miranda's shop, then I could head home, finish my chores, then try to sleep whatever this was off. After playing Witchie's games all afternoon I began to get tired, I continuously tripped over and was almost hit by Witchie's magic until my reflexes failed me and a bolt collided with my chest.

My chest hurt so bad.

I just needed to move a few more paces until I reached Westown, just a few more until I could rest. I straightened and dragged my feet until I reached the entrance of the town. I felt so childish but I wanted my mother to look after me, I wanted to be tucked in my old bed and under her care again.

"Howdy Nanami!" I heard Wayne's voice coming from a direction I couldn't quite make out. "Nanami you don't look so good, are you okay?"

"I don't…"

I wish I could say something pretty and romantic at this point, but my following actions were definitely not pretty and most likely deterred romance. The nausea clawed at my throat. I tried to forced down the bile, but it was too late. Chunks of my partially digested breakfast spewed out of my coughing, choking mouth. I lurched forward and sunk to my knees, heaving. I crumbled to the ground like a puppet released from its strings.

I don't remember much of what happened before passing out, except from my body being lifted up by someone after I crumbled to the ground and carried me away.

Slowly, I opened my eyes to a blinding, artificial light beating down on my face. Thought it hurts to move my body, I move my hand to shield my eyes from the light as a feeling of nausea creeps back up on me. I peek from under my hand to examine my surroundings. Where am I? My eyes feel heavy. I'm so confused but I don't have the energy to act upon this confusion.

"... You are awake." A voice spoke from the doorway. I looked up slowly to see Doctor Ford approaching me from the doorway.

"W-Where am I? What happened?" I croaked out. My throat was dry, I looked around desperately for a drink. Noticing a glass of water on the bedside table, I attempted to reach out for the water only for a sharp pain in my stomach to deter my hand from reaching further. I let out a small moan. I glanced up at Ford shyly, hoping he hadn't heard the noise that had just come out of me. I was so thirsty.

Doctor Ford reached over for a glass and held it to my lips gently, "Don't drink it all at once, you need to take little sips at a time."

The burning sensation in my throat grew more when Ford pressed the cool rim of the glass against my dry, cracked lips. The small sip of water traced its way inside my mouth, I savoured it. After taking a few, careful sips, Ford placed the glass back onto the bedside table and glanced down at his clipboard stoically.

"You used up all of your strength and fainted, so you were brought here. It appears you experienced a blow to your stomach area," Ford glanced up from his clipboard and observed me quietly, "How did this occur?"

"I… Well…" I tried to think of a lie I could tell him. I couldn't tell him about how I had been zapped by a pang of the Witch Princess's magic whilst playing the most non-enjoyable game with her and the Harvest Goddess. My mental state would be investigated if I told him what actually happened. But my head hurt so much, I couldn't concentrate. I couldn't think of the simplest white lie to tell him. "... I don't remember." I whispered.

Ford's eyebrows furrowed, the most expression I had seen on his face since I awoke.

"Good grief, Nanami. Don't you know there's a limit to one's strength? What on earth were you doing to end up like this? You should be more careful and observant of…" Ford sighed and shook his head quietly, "At least you're awake now. You had people worrying about you. I'll preach you later. Just rest your body now… Wayne is outside, he was the one that found you and brought you here."

I felt my face pale, though my memory of what happened when I collapsed was foggy I could remember… Vomiting over Wayne. Oh god.

As if Ford could read my thoughts, he said straightforwardly, "Vomiting is a natural side-effect of a blow to the stomach region. You were lucky that someone was there, otherwise, you could have choked on your own vomit. Wayne managed to wash it off of him and out of his hair in no time. He insisted on waiting here when I was examining you initially but the smell was making my clinic smell extremely unpleasant."

I nodded shyly through his account of the incident that I was hoping would be brushed over and forgotten. I wanted to sink into the bed and go back to sleep instead of facing everyone just yet, but at the same time, Ford's comment about people worrying about me made me feel special. Things could have gone worse. Isn't vomiting over someone and passing out better than being stuck in the form of a frog for the rest of my life?

"Thank you for taking care of me, Doctor Ford. I-I really appreciate your help." I said quietly, my throat still burned from where it had been so dry.

Ford paused in the doorway, "You don't have to thank me. It's a doctor's job to care for the sick,"

"... Be more careful next time." He said gently, I almost didn't hear what he said. Ford glanced over at me before walking out of the room, I offered him a timid smile which he returned with a curt nod.

Wayne entered the room after Ford left. I focused my attention on a particularly fascinating spot on my blanket to avoid looking at Wayne and revealing my reddening cheeks for as long as I possibly could. He sat down in the chair beside my hospital bed and cleared his throat.

I knew this was silly, I shouldn't overreact and make a big deal over this just because I'm embarrassed. Fainting and vomiting all over someone is completely normal and human, even if it does feel humiliating. If Wayne was zapped by some of Witchie's magic then he would probably throw up over the nearest person and collapse on them too. It was stupid to think Wayne would act negatively towards me over such a thing. Wayne always acted kindly, even when certain pushy individuals crossed the line when talking to him. He would act no differently to this situation. It was silly to overthink something that probably wouldn't even bother Wayne in the slightest.

"Hi, Wayne…" I whispered, my voice failing me. "Ford told me that you brought me here, thank you for doing that… I'm sorry you had to see that."

Wayne shook his head, "You had us all worried there for a second, Nami. What happened? Are you feeling okay?"

I forced my eyes to meet Wayne's and offered him a small smile, "I'm okay… I-I… I can't really remember what happened, I must have pushed myself too far. I just remember suddenly feeling nauseous and everything going black... I feel better now though, just a bit sore."

"I'm glad to hear ya' feeling better, Nami." Wayne frowned and lowered his voice, "You're always working so hard at the farm and doing so much that I think we all forget that you're not indestructible. You need to make sure you rest and look after yourself too."

I watched Wayne silently, distracted momentarily by his words. It wasn't as if he had said a beautiful soliloquy or uttered something shocking, but his words suggested that multiple people, including himself, cared about my wellbeing.

… It felt nice.

I had a habit of focusing so much of my attention and thoughts on making my farm one that my father would approve of. My sole drive seems to be focused on him that I forget there iss a world and other people around me. Some part of me didn't allow myself to stop and appreciate what I had gained, the people I had met and began to grow closer to, the community I was recognised as being a part of, because I still felt that I was that younger version of myself that was scared my father would get given another job position and move me away from everything I had gained. I wasn't a kid anymore, whilst I may have to put up with the consequence of disapproval and shame, my father couldn't drag me away from this place. This was my home. I had the freedom to connect and make friends without worrying about having to leave them behind. So when Wayne's words suggested that multiple people were worried about me… It was nice. It made me feel like I really was a part of this community and quaint little world now. Maybe this was the place that I belonged.

Wayne stayed by my bedside, and kept me company. I knew he was usually still working at this time in the day, but he made no move to quickly leave and instead offered me the comfort of a nice conversation and bringing a glass of water gently to my lips when my mouth began to feel dry and painful again.

"Have y'all managed to visit Lulukoko much yet?" Wayne asked as he set my glass of water back onto my bedside table.

"I've visited a few times since it reopened, I like going there and walking along the beach after I've finished all of my errands. It's a really beautiful town, isn't it?"

Wayne nodded in agreement and smiled, "I've had to readjust my delivery route so I can all of Lulukoko's letters during the day too."

I paused and raised my eyebrow, "I thought you were just the postman of Westown."

Wayne chuckled, "Unfortunately all three towns are stuck with me as their postman. Same goes for Ford, he usually had to look after patients from the other towns too. It's nice seeing all the different towns during my daily rounds but I think I got a bit lazy when the entrances to the other towns were blocked."

"Once all three towns are open again I bet you're not going to have any life outside of work, you're going to have so many letters to deliver each day!"

Ford cleared his throat from the doorway, "My patient needs to rest now, Wayne. Your conversing is making her use up too much energy."

I could have happily objected that nice company was a great medicinal alternative, however, I didn't want to go against Ford's orders. He was taking care of me after all.

Wayne smirked at Ford and stood up, "Of course, I can't go against the doctor's orders." Wayne squeezed my hand gently and smiled, "Take care of yourself, Nami."