Chibi-Inko's Battle with Illness 2: Yamane-san Becomes Chibi's Hero (Day 323)

(This is a continuation of Chibi-Inko's Battle with Illness 1.)

<4-Panel Comic: 'Chibi-Inko, Discharged'>

The few days without Chibi

I was worried about Chibi-Inko, who had been hospitalized, but since the weekend had ended and a hectic work week had begun on Monday, I was unable to do anything.

Yamane-san would regularly call the hospital to ask about the condition of Chibi, who was hospitalized. It seemed that the condition had not worsened, but I couldn't help but worry.

Above all, since we were told that with an intestinal obstruction and an enlarged liver, it was a miracle that Chibi was even alive, I honestly couldn't believe that Chibi would make a full recovery. Even if Chibi was in a stable condition now, I feared it was only temporary, and that the condition might suddenly worsen, leading to a tragic end. I worried that at any moment, I might receive a phone call from the hospital announcing Chibi's death.

One agonizing day passed, and then another...

It was Friday night, the night before the Saturday that Yamane-san and I had promised to go visit Chibi.
"Let's go visit Chibi this weekend."
that we had made.

An unexpected return! A Friday night surprise

That day, too, I worked overtime and was exhausted, but when I finally managed to return home, to my surprise, I heard a cute 'piyo' sound coming from inside the room.

"Chibi-Inko!? You were discharged!?"

When I rushed into the room, Chibi-Inko was there in the usual birdcage, perched energetically on the perch and looking up at me.

Yamane-san: "I left work early today to go visit Chibi. When I got there, Chibi had already been moved to the travel cage, and they told me, 'He's completely recovered, so you're free to take him home,' so I brought him back!"

What!? But he had such severe symptoms, is it really okay for him to be discharged?

Inko: "What did the doctor say? What about the intestinal obstruction? The enlarged liver???"

Yamane-san: "They took an X-ray, and his intestines aren't blocked anymore, his poop is back to normal, and his internal organs are back to normal too. The doctor said he doesn't really know why, but maybe it was just a case of constipation after all."

Can internal organs that were enlarged really just go back to normal like that?

But well, I'm happy he's better, and it's a cause for celebration!

Big Inko gets unexpectedly ignored

Inko: "Chibi-chan!! I missed you so much!"

I opened the cage lid, intending to have a reunion hug. Chibi-Inko trotted out and stared up at me.

Come on, Chibi-chan, come on to my shoulder!!!!

I said, gently extending my finger.

However, Chibi completely ignored my finger, fluttered out of the cage, flew in a parabola over my head, and landed on Yamane-san's shoulder behind me.

Yamane-san: "Oh, I see, I see, you prefer me?"
Chibi: "Pirurururu (cooing voice)"

Gaaaaah!!!!! Whyyyyyy!?!

Chibi-Inko unexpectedly ignores Big Inko!

Yamane-san becomes the savior hero

And, quite sadly, from then on, no matter how many times I gently offered my finger, Chibi would only land on my finger or shoulder for a split second, or ignore me completely as he flew past, heading straight for Yamane-san.

Yamane-san: "When I went to pick him up at the hospital, he seemed like he couldn't wait to jump onto me. I think Chibi must have felt lonely in his own way."

Yes, it seems that Yamane-san, who rescued him from the animal hospital, has become a savior hero to Chibi the parakeet. Chibi no longer has eyes for me; he is single-mindedly pursuing his hero, Yamane-san.

(But when I rustle the treat bag, he cleverly comes to land on my shoulder, so it seems I am at least in his field of vision after all...)

Look, I told you, the Big Parakeet couldn't come to pick you up because of working overtime every day (tears). You're wrong to measure love by whether or not someone comes to pick you up, Chibi the parakeet!!

But well, I'm relieved that Chibi has returned to his healthy self.

Postscript: Hero worship fever finally subsides

After that, Chibi's hero worship fever gradually faded, and now he lands on the Big Parakeet's shoulder just as much as mine. What a relief...

The parakeet couple spends every day carefully monitoring the state of Chibi's droppings so that he doesn't accidentally get constipated again.