A Path Through the Woods(A RiaEgg Story)

CHAPTER 13: "We're Glad to Have You Back."

The massive band of crewmates stampeded into the hospital through the front doors the second time, wearing excited smiles instead of shocked, fearful frowns. Dr. Doktor was already standing there at the receptionist's desk, waiting for them.

"Well..." he remarked when he saw the pack that Ria had lead to the hospital with her. "...MrEgg certainly has a lot of good friends."

"Yep. The best he could ask for," Veteran claimed. "So, uh, is he awake yet?"

"We stopped administering anesthesia about five minutes ago. I doubt that it will be any longer than a few minutes before its effects begin to wear off, and he begins to regain his awareness."

"Can we go up and see him now?" Ria asked him.

"You may. But make sure you keep your voices down. And try not to crowd him too much right as he awakens," the doctor told them. "He'll probably still be drowsy from the medicine lingering in his system, and it would be best not to overwhelm him."

"Got it, Doctor," Captain nodded. "Alright, gang. Let's head on up there."

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Ria slowly and quietly turned the doorknob to his room, then pushed it open...MrEgg was still lying in bed with his eyes shut, but he shifted a little when the door started to creak. She motioned for the others to follow her inside, also raising a finger to her mouth as to remind them to be quiet.

She approached his bedside first, softly intertwining his good hand in her own...His broken one still had a cast and a brace over it, and there were still bandages across his chest and a large patch over the gash in his side, but most of his smaller cuts and bruises had faded, and his once deathly pale complexion now had a bit more color to it.

He seemed to feel someone holding his hand, as he gripped it back lightly in response.

"MrEgg...?" Ria whispered. He stirred a bit more at the sound of her voice, making a small noise in response to hers.

"お願いだから...起きてください," Ninja urged, his usually serious tone sounding a lot softer now.

Slowly, MrEgg's visor began to twitch, and it was only a matter of seconds until it had started to open, revealing a pair of tired-looking eyes underneath.

"You're awake," Ria said to him, tilting her head a bit as they looked each other right in the eye, waiting for him to collect his thoughts. His visor opened just a bit more before he gave a slow, hazy response.

"...R...ria...?"

"Yeah," she said to him, sniffling a bit as the smile on her face continued to grow. "Yeah. It's me...You made it."

"...I...I did...?"

"You sure did," Player whispered, stepping up beside Ria and very gently resting his hand against the top of MrEgg's head. "We're all proud of you."

"...Really...?"

"We've never been more so, old chap," TheGentleman nodded. "...And we're glad to have you back."

"...H...how...long was I...gone...?"

"Let's see, uh...two and a half weeks, right Ria?" MrCheese asked, to which she nodded.