[Serialized Novel] "Heart Chick" Episode 8

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A new patient arrived just past noon one day.
The doctor quickly looked over the medical questionnaire and reconfirmed the symptoms that were currently bothering her.

The doctor's attire today consisted of his usual white coat, with a navy striped shirt and a pale gray knit sweater layered underneath. A shirt and knit combination. Kite-brown eyes. Soft, fluffy brown hair. Every time I see him, he's so handsome that I feel like I'm going to faint.
"...Ms. Towako Kano."
The doctor murmured softly. Did he know her?

Ms. Kano was a beautiful woman. Her dignified posture suited her slim pantsuit perfectly, and her sharp gaze was fixed straight on the doctor. Her glossy black short hair seemed well-maintained, with no strange cowlicks or bedhead to be seen. A butterfly earring sparkled at her ear.
Honestly, she was completely different from the usual patients. I was surprised, as she didn't have the air of someone coming to cure a heart ailment.
"I apologize for taking up your time when you are so busy."
Ms. Kano bowed gracefully. As for the doctor, he was his usual self.
"Thank you for your kindness. It is very helpful that you filled out the questionnaire so thoroughly."
I hid in the shadow of the office desk so the patient wouldn't see me. I have a mirror set up in a good spot so I can see the entrance and waiting room even while hiding. Through the mirror, I could see Ms. Kano smiling.
The doctor ushered her into the examination room, and the treatment began.
Once I confirmed that the curtain at the entrance to the examination room was closed, I checked the remaining water in the humidifier and the state of the goldfish bowl on the counter. I noticed some dust in the corner of the floor, so I used magic to move it into the trash can. Dust is light, so it's easy.

Lately, I've come to want to be near the doctor more and more.
At night, I sleep in my own basket with a towel laid out by the doctor's bedside. On nights when I feel particularly anxious, I sometimes sleep while clutching his finger tightly. Even though it's just one finger, it's warm and makes me feel safe.
I felt envious looking at Ms. Kano. The other patients are men and women of all ages, but even the other "women" like me often have dead-looking eyes. When they reach the "graduation" point where treatment is finished, their eyes change into lively, wonderful ones. Their hunched backs straighten up. They leave with a smile, their cheeks flushed like roses, leaving behind looks of gratitude and respect for the doctor.
If only I were human, too...
I could hug him with my whole body, not just my middle finger...

The new patient from earlier was so dazzling that I felt jealous.
Even though I'm near the doctor every single day. The doctor and I are strictly in a relationship of healer and patient. Or perhaps guardian and ward.
I realized that there is a part of me that wants him to see me as a woman. Even though I'm this small. Even though I'm just a bug-like sylph who buzzes around the doctor if I have wings.

In the examination room, the doctor was instructing the patient to lie down on the examination bed.
"Yes."
The patient replied.
I don't intend to eavesdrop, but I end up listening anyway.
There was a pause for a while.

Suddenly, the doctor let out a slightly loud "Ah." Usually, the doctor doesn't raise his voice during an examination. He doesn't get flustered, either. He conducts examinations calmly and gently. I felt something was off.
Even if I tried to check the situation with the mirror, I couldn't see because of the curtain.
It'll be fine if I don't get caught, I thought, and quickly jumped off the office desk (there's a hemp string hanging from the desk to the floor, so I can just grab it and climb down), and ran te-te-te... to the front of the examination room. From the reception to the examination room is four steps for the doctor, and a hundred steps for me. Even though I'm running, it takes time.
At times like this, I bite my lip because I cannot fly.

"Ah, ah," the doctor's voice said. I couldn't hear the patient's voice.
What does this mean? I felt uneasy because it didn't feel like a normal examination.
I managed to peek inside through a gap. The doctor was looking down, pressing his eyes with his hand.
My eyes widened. The patient... the woman named Ms. Kano, was sitting up on the examination bed. She was looking... glaring at the doctor with straight eyes.
Ms. Kano lifted the corners of her thin lips and said,
"How is it? You have that nature too, don't you?"
That nature? I held my breath and watched the situation.
"Um... when you say 'you too'?"
When the doctor replied, Ms. Kano chuckled.
"You don't say it yourself, do you? Then I will speak honestly. I can touch people's 'hearts'."
"............"
The doctor was silent. This person is the same as the doctor. Can this woman also touch the 'hearts' of people she touches?
Then, did the doctor touch her just now? But he always touches other patients during examinations. What happened when he touched her now?
The doctor groaned.
"It's painful."
"I suppose so. That is why I came here. Please cure me quickly."
"Yes... Then, could you please lie down here once more?"
"Fine."
The doctor continued the treatment. He touched her ankle, examined it carefully, gave the woman a few instructions, and then adjusted it again. He checked once more, and then adjusted it the same way again. It seemed to be taking an unusually long time, even though other patients only needed one or two adjustments before moving to the next step. Is she such a serious patient that even the doctor finds it difficult?
"Do you have a habit of thinking about many things?"

The doctor asked.
"I do think. I, like you, serve as the director of a hospital that heals hearts."
"...Ms. Towako Kano. I am aware of that."
So the doctor did know about her! And it seems the woman also has a job healing hearts, just like the doctor.
The woman lay down and continued talking while being treated by the doctor.
"I have healed many patients. I don't think there is any doctor who can examine better than me in this field now. Both in number and quality. I have also taught people as successors, but well, they aren't much, and it seems difficult to entrust them with it yet."
The doctor didn't answer. I suddenly wondered. Why would a doctor who heals hearts come to have her own heart healed?
The woman told him many other things as well. What on earth is ailing her? Her words are full of confidence. But according to the doctor, her heart is 'painful'.

"You said earlier that you can touch 'hearts' just like I can. Did you touch my heart?"
"Yes, I touched it."
"Are you going to admit that?"
"Yes, because there is no point in trying to hide it from you."
"And yet, do you intend to continue the examination? Are you testing my skills?"
When the doctor said that, the woman shouted.

"I came here to have my heart healed!!"

The doctor's hands stopped their treatment. I even forgot to breathe as I watched the situation.
The director, who is so incredibly successful, was breathing heavily because she had suddenly shouted.

I couldn't see what kind of expression the woman had.
The hospital fell completely silent.

(To be continued)

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