Chapter 43: Anna

"Masaki."

Chiba looked up and greeted Valenti with a smile. "What brings you here?"

"I heard you’d scheduled a surgery at the base today, so I came to check on you."

"Don't come any closer just yet," Chiba said in a low voice.

Valenti cooperated by standing still. Only after Elu had cleared all the documents from the hospital beds did she slowly walk over to Chiba and sit down.

"Didn't you say you were going to take a proper break these past two months?" Valenti frowned slightly. "Did you take another mission?"

Chiba waved lightly at Elu, signaling for him to leave. Elu bowed to both Chiba and Valenti before stepping out and closing the door behind him.

"A new wave of chelates appeared in the wasteland of the Fifth District," Chiba’s voice sounded a bit raspy. "Something felt off about it, and since a distress signal came in from that area, I went to take a look."

"And was it resolved?"

"Yes, all taken care of." Chiba looked at her. "You came at the right time. Help me tell Hess a favor tomorrow: I won't be going out the day after, so have her come stay in my ward."

"What do you want her to come here for?"

"Nothing in particular, just to be by my side," Chiba replied. "Otherwise, I won't meet my quota for time spent with her this month."

Valenti’s expression turned serious. "...Do you even know what a vacation is for?"

"Rest," Chiba answered immediately.

She understood what Valenti wanted to say, but the two just looked at each other for a moment. Chiba reached up and ran a hand through her hair. "Can you do me another favor?"

"What is it?"

"My coat should be outside; the head nurse must have put it away," Chiba lowered her voice. "There should still be half a pack of cigarettes in the inside pocket—"

Valenti knitted her brows. "Do you really think I’d help you with that?"

"Fair enough." Chiba leaned back and gripped the iron railing of the bed. "But I'm fine, Valenti. These are just standard injuries; I'll be discharged soon—"

"If you keep up this operational frequency, you might not even live to see thirty-five—and that was my father's diagnosis from years ago." Valenti tilted her head. "Chiba, what exactly are you thinking?"

Chiba did not answer. She stretched her legs out straight, her entire upper body relaxing completely, her long hair pooling over her chest.

Without a cigarette, Chiba always felt like something was missing in such moments. Her fingers tapped restlessly against the sheets at the edge of the bed.

Chiba stared vaguely ahead. "That's still too long."

A flash of surprise crossed Valenti’s eyes. "What do you mean? Are you trying to commit slow suicide this way?"

Chiba was taken aback, then let out a laugh. She waved a hand at Valenti. "Death is inevitable, Valenti, but I won't walk toward it on my own... I would never do such a thing."

Seeming to feel her previous question was too blunt, Valenti blushed slightly. She stood up to tidy the fresh bouquet on the nearby table, avoiding Chiba’s gaze.

"My father mentioned you a few days ago. He said that among all the patients he’s ever treated, no one has a stronger will to live than you."

"That’s true," Chiba leaned against the headboard. "I’m just unlucky enough to have a few habits that are slightly more destructive. You don’t need to worry too much... How is Dr. Viking doing lately?"

"The same as always," Valenti said softly. "He should be patrolling the southern wastelands with the Allied Forces. At this rate, he might come to Tanyi in two weeks."

"Your father is truly a brave man."

"Would you like to meet him then?"

Chiba calculated the time in her head and murmured, "We'll see how things are then."

They chatted for a while longer. As she was leaving, Valenti had barely stepped out the door when she turned right back around. "Oh, right! Ms. Anna’s manuscript... I almost forgot to give it to you. It’s such a thick stack..."

With that, Valenti pulled a stack of papers about four fingers thick from her black satchel. Inside, every line was typed out—dense, short, and long sentences, yet remarkably neat.

The moment she heard the name "Anna," Chiba’s expression became subtle.

"My father is Ms. Anna’s attending physician now," Valenti said quietly. "We won't have to go through so much trouble to get her manuscripts anymore; he can visit her every month."

Chiba silently took the manuscript. The cover had been added separately, with Valenti’s father having written *When the Forest Sings: Volume II* on it in elegant script.

"She’s still writing these useless things," Chiba muttered. "No one is ever going to read them."

"I read them," Valenti argued with a smile. "I found them quite inspiring. I’ve never seen anyone write about forest science as interestingly as she does."

"How is her health, now?"

"Fine in the short term, not very optimistic in the long term," Valenti said in a low voice. "She had a minor knee surgery last month. If she rests well, she might be able to stand again in the future. My father has mentioned it to the Allied Government many times: Ms. Anna doesn't need constant bed rest; she needs to return to a normal life as soon as possible. Keeping her imprisoned in one place, even if it’s a palace, does no good. Fortunately, she can still write. At least when she’s writing, she’s free."

Chiba did not respond. She looked back at the manuscript. "Should this... go to that editor in the 14th District again?"

"Yes. There are two copies here. One is for the editor, and the other, Ms. Anna hopes you can keep for her. She worries that if she keeps the original on her, it will be confiscated the next time the Allied Government conducts a raid."

"Alright." Chiba had already quickly found the dividing page in the stack. "I understand."

"Is there anything you want me to pass on to her? Like—"

"No."

"Whatever. My father won't be here for another two weeks anyway, so you can think about it." Valenti stood up again. "Once my father arrives in Tanyi, his next stop is the Core City. He won't be staying here for long."

"Got it." Chiba looked up at Valenti. "Thank you for the hard work."

"It’s nothing," Valenti looked at her. "I heard from my father that Anna’s life is very lonely now. If someone could write her a letter, it would probably bring her great encouragement."

"...You could write one," Chiba said. "Back when Anna taught us Introduction to Natural History, you were always trailing behind her asking questions—she must have a deep impression of you."

"I’ve already written one," Valenti said with a smile. "But it’s been nearly four years since we last met, so I don't have much to say. You know, life at the base is monotonous and routine; no matter how I write, it’s nothing special. But, if it were you—"

"I wouldn't have anything special to write either," Chiba replied. "A lot of what I do isn't convenient to talk about, and if the letter were intercepted, it would only bring her unnecessary trouble... Don't try to persuade me."

Valenti sighed softly, but she smiled again quickly. "Fair enough. I was just making a suggestion; don't feel pressured."

After Valenti left, Elu returned to the ward. Seeing Chiba sorting the manuscript with one hand, he asked why, and Chiba told him the truth.

"Do you need any help?" Elu asked. "I can help you mail it tomorrow."

"No need. I happen to be going to the 14th District next month anyway," Chiba lowered her eyes. "I'll do it myself."