"Of course. Is there anything you need?"

He shakes his head. "No, thank you, Hayashi-san."

"You're quite welcome. Rest well."

And then, several hours later, the desire to move rooms is confirmed, and he is gently bundled up and wheeled away to another room. This room contains pretty plants by the window, a couple packages of sweets, and most importantly...

One Hayashi Akiho.

"Fushiguro-san!" she says, brightening immediately upon seeing him. "Hi! How are you doing."

"Not any more hurt than last time you saw me."

"Wow, what a glowing review that does not at all fill me with concern."

He shrugs, and winces at the pain. "Take it or leave it."

"Well I'm taking it, obviously, you're my friend. Besides, I think my mom has decided to adopt you as her own."

"...what?"

"I don't know, she was very annoyed by the state of your hospital room. In a, a. My mom kind of way. She is out passive aggressively buying you a get well card or something."

"Passive aggressively," he repeats slowly.

"Yep. Just wait. You'll see. She's scary."

"You don't look scared."

"She is not pointed at me! Are you scared of Gojo-sensei when he's being scary?"

"...nah."

"Mhmm. She might get you balloons. Just think! Bright and happy with 'Get well soon' on them!"

He grimaces. "Can I opt out?"

Hayashi makes a malevolent little cackle.

"No."

"Isn't bringing this suffering to your fellows betraying your sorcerer principles?" he needles.

"Ooo! Low blow! But no, they're fine, maternal smothering doesn't fall under my sorcerer jurisdiction."

"Sounds like a cop-out."

"Well I'm a sorcerer, and so I'm the only one that gets to say what my arbitrary rules are," she says, sticking out her tongue.

He chuckles, and winces again when that jostles something it oughtn't.

She winces too, out of sympathy instead of actual pain, and her cheery demeanor cracks.

".... sorry," she murmurs.

"For making me laugh? I don't think that's something people usually apologise for."