Chapter 20: Animal Care
Hiss. The calico squirmed under Kiyoshi's arms. "It's okay," he cooed. "It will be fast." The cat growled at the vet, digging her claws onto the hoodie. Kiyoshi tensed at the pain before huffing in defeat. Skidding to the cages, he left the calico where she could observe her friend.
"Everything will be alright," he reassured again in the most soothing tone he could make, caressing her cheek with the back of his finger.
Shino-san was talking to the black cat, setting him on a soft towel on top the check-up table. "Help me here," he said to Kiyoshi, a hand on top of the black cat.
Doing as told, he clasped the cat's neck. Setting the other hand on his body, he pressed down.
The black cat begged with a deep mewl while Shino-san collected a blood sample. Kiyoshi smiled sadly. They had to undergo these checkups. They were stray and that left them vulnerable to diseases. The check-ups were longer compared to housecats like Maru, and Kiyoshi understood they were for the best even if it hurt seeing them thrash. He began regretting doing this today.
The calico was the hardest one. During her partner's test, she was howling and smacking the bars as if she thought they were hurting her partner. But if she went first, she would attack Shino-san as soon as he tried touching her.
Kiyoshi's regret hardened.
When Kiyoshi set her down on the table in front of the white-robed man, he had to latch onto her. The vet tried looking unfazed, beads of sweat already rolling down his forehead. Despite the many check-ups behind them, the calico had remained unpredictable. The cats lived in the wild, having a routine was almost impossible.
As soon as the examinations were done, Kiyoshi ran to get the first aid kit after slipping a tuna can in front of the female cat for positive reinforcement. She sniffed it for caution but trotted to her partner instead and began to lick him fondly.
Shino-san accepted the kit and snapped it open. "Try giving her the treat. Don't mind me."
Kiyoshi nodded obediently and grabbed the can from the floor. The kitties were perched on a chair beside the cages; the other can hanging from the edge of the cushion. Kiyoshi retrieved it and placed the other one in front of the calico. She gazed at Kiyoshi before showing him the butt. He sighed and took the can back, the black cat already licking it. "You can eat it later. . ." he told the calico with a small pout.
Turning to the injured vet, he prepared. "Um. . . Shi-Shino. . . san?" The vet replied nonchalantly, tightening the gauze around his forearm. He had applied an antibiotic on the scratches on his face, and despite not being the best looking adult Kiyoshi was acquaintanced with, heavy guilt dawned on his chest at the ugly sight.
"Are you okay. . . ?" Kiyoshi asked, quiet and concerned, blaming himself for seeking him to check on the aggressive calico.
"Yeah, it's fine." The vet turned full-face at Kiyoshi, face a mix of light pink from the cream, and olive skin undertone, and a rich dark brown stubble. "Nothing unusual from her," he deadppaned. "Why?"
Kiyoshi's heart jumped in reflex. "Um, nothing. Sorry." There was no reason he should be concerned. He just was.
The vet slid along the table, putting away the medical equipement that was used. Kiyoshi took the chair beside the cats, gazing at their pristine fur. "You guys are so cute," he squealed and pet the black cat. The calico rose her head and stared silently. Kiyoshi stopped and sighed again.
"How's training coming along?" Shino-san asked. Right, last week Kiyoshi had told him he couldn't bring Tama because he was meeting up with Keima.
"It went well for a while," he replied, stretching his legs and tapping the tips of his shoes before squeezing his arms closer. "I wasn't feeling well so I thought I could give them a bath today."
"Yeah, I'm glad you came today," Shino-san smiled. "I don't have any appointments until late afternoon, so it was a great time to check up on them."
Kiyoshi nodded. "I haven't come for a while," he airily commented.
"By the way, do you have plans for summer?"
He pondered. "Not yet, but I want to help out even if I do." He gazed at the calico. The day he met Shino-san was scary but he was glad to know him. A year had almost passed since that unpleasant summer. It brought them closer, and Kiyoshi couldn't be more grateful to have an adult he could trust and depend on in a healthy way.
"What, planning to get a boyfriend?" Shino-san grinned mischievously, so unfitting for a man his age. Kiyoshi blushed at the question.
"Ma-maybe. I-I don't know. That would be great though." He looked down in embarrassment.
"That reminds me, Kirishima-kun came by the other day. He asked about you." He shrugged and clicked his tongue. "He looked happy."
Kiyoshi giggled. "We are friends again. Or at least trying to be."
The man's scrunched eyes widened and evaded Kiyoshi's, shifting to a thoughtful expression. "It seemed like he wanted to see you. Well," he emphasized. "I'm glad. Did you resolve your problems?"
Kiyoshi laughed dryly. "Kind of. We haven't talked much about the fight. Keima has other priorities," he lowered his voice, the bitterness and hurt slipping, "even if we promised to mend our relationships before those happened."
Shino-san's sigh boomed in the private room. "He's not playing with you, is he? Popular guys--"
"He's not!" Kiyoshi interrupted sharply. "He's not that kind of person!" But his mind already doubted him.
"Kids your age can do terrible things, Kiyoshi. I don't want to see you hurt because of him again."
"That. . . that was because I chose to push him away," he insisted. "Please don't say things like that." Kiyoshi clutched his head. Keima said they were friends. He couldn't be a player. He couldn't be one of those people--
"I'm sorry," Shino-san walked towards him and put a hand on his shoulder, kneeling to eye-level. "I went too far." Kiyoshi sniffed and his mentor's expression dropped with regret. "Here, I hope your friendship improves." He extended a lollipop, strawberry milk. One of the good ones. Kiyoshi gratefully accepted and tucked it in his mouth.
"Yummy."
Shino-san smiled and stood up. "If you guys are meant to be, you will overcome any challenge."
"It-it's not like we are on a re-relationship!"
His mentor shrugged. "I admit Kirishima is a good person. He was always concerned about you, and he's always polite to the other clients. Do you still have feelings for him?"
That was a question Kiyoshi didn't know the answer of. He had a crush on his knight but Keima. . .
"He's changed." Shino-san accepted that answer with a nod. "I still want to be touchy-feely with him. . . but it's so different now. It's the hormones, right?"
The man nodded again and Kiyoshi groaned. "You are livelier now, at least," the vet commented with a smile. Kiyoshi couldn't deny that.
"He's not the only reason," Kiyoshi said. "Stuff has happened, and I would like some advice."
"Do you want to go to the office?" Kiyoshi swayed his head and proceeded to describe all about the exchange, the mission, and the most recent happenings.
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The calico's chartreuse gaze was piercing but reassuring. When Kiyoshi grew restless, she sprawled on his lap, breathing deeply after finishing the late snack. Kiyoshi stroke her head, both out of affection and self-reassurance before looking up at Shino-san.
"Eventful month, huh?" the vet commented in a flat tone, leaning his waist against the check-up table. Having dumped a lot of information on the man, he was patient for the final reply.
"I don't think anyone has told you this: you did nothing wrong," Shino-san started, arms crossed and brows deeply knitted. "It's for your dream after all."
"Survival of the fittest or something," Kiyoshi retorted dryly.
"Kind of. Animals don't know morals or ethics, using their intellect and bodies for their goals." Shino-san tapped his temple. "You used what was available to you and keep going because of your patience." His thick eyebrows narrowed further and his jaw tightened. "But that Teikoku third-year should be reported to the school for physical abuse."
Kiyoshi smiled, touched. "Thanks." He couldn't trust Keima on this complicated situation. He couldn't imagine his reaction, but Kiyoshi believed he was better off not being influenced by a good person. On a situation like this, goodness and morals had no place.
"About the president's deal. . ."
"You aren't sure whether to accept it or not? It's pretty good in my opinion."
"Yeah but--there's no guarantee everything will work out."
"There's never a guarantee anything will work out, Kiyoshi," the man said. "You have done your best." A smile peeked from Kiyoshi's lips. Shino-san continued. "What are you worried about?"
"Hm, I don't have friends." The man froze. "Okay, too honest," Kiyoshi facepalmed and the other agreed stiffly. "But that's really it," he continued. "I don't have a guarantee I will be able to get along with everyone."
"I think you should aim lower." Shino-san slumped his shoulders. "When do you have to answer?"
"Monday."
"Can you ask him to push the date a couple of days? You can try talking to your classmates. Videogames are still a boom."
Kiyoshi flashed a wide grin. "That sounds fun."
Shino-san adopted a thoughtful expression. "But if you are good-looking, they may not let you in."
'__Personal experience much?' Kiyoshi sneered to himself. The most memorable reaction he had got to liking guys was not being disliked for having good-looks and being straight. Being with Shino-san was super fun.
"I think I should be around other weirdos." Kiyoshi placed a hand on his hair and tugged on a strand. "Maybe some will think I'm a punk--ah, but I said in the interview I'm half." He paused. "I hope they read that. . ."
Shino-san shrugged, half-smiling. "Trial periods."
The chatter continued for another hour until they had to move on with their lives.
Kiyoshi glanced at his watch and stood up. "I gotta go."
"Take care."
He nodded and took the cats who allowed him. "Keima is coming by," he mentioned, turning towards the door. A thought entered his head and he put down the kitties before giving the vet a hug. "Thank you, Shino-san. You are the only one who has enough patience for someone like me." He let go and pulled the cats up again.
"Kiyoshi," the man called back. His gaze was softer but his face was tense, worried. "About Kirishima. I know you aren't as eloquent around others like with me. But if you really want your friendship with him to work, you have to do your best even if it's frightening."
He smild. "I will take it to heart."
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Kiyoshi squealed internally as he saw Keima behind the open door in all his adorable and cool glory. Whatever puberty did to him, Kiyoshi was glad his eyes could feast in such beauty.
His friend showed him a breathtaking smile and waved his hand. The sun had already set, and the streetlights shone down his gentle features. Kiyoshi returned the smile and offered him to come in.
Keima's smile wavered. "Next time, I have to finish some homework," he explained with a helpless expression, but Kiyoshi didn't let the rejection waver his resolve to face him.
"Do you still take a lot of time on homework?" he asked casually.
Keima scratched the back of his head. "Yeah, it's boring. Listening to music has helped a bit." He extended the ticket with a smile. "Here."
Kiyoshi gratefully accepted it. "Um, Keima. I'm-I'm sorry for what I did the other day--the ki-kis-s." He pressed the cardboard paper against his chest. "I-I won't make ex-cuses. I am really sorry if it made you uncomfortable."
Keima fumbled over his words again, glancing all over the place. "It's fine, really," he managed to say, not quite confidently. There it was, relieving Kiyoshi from taking responsibility.
He sighed. "If you find you didn't like it, remember I'm repenting." Talking about forcing oneself onto another too, even if this time it was closer to an accident. There were times where it wasn't. Like when Kiyoshi forced Keima to admit he was fond of him because he didn't condemn him for fracturing that boy's leg.
"I really gotta go," Keima said, evading Kiyoshi's gaze. His body was all tilted and awkward. It pained Kiyoshi's heart seeing him like this.
"See you on Sunday." Kiyoshi smiled gently. Keima nodded and walked away while he regarded him go. However, when he turned the corner, the brunette pressed his hand against the brick wall.
"You are really cool, you know that?" Keima turned his head gave him a close-eyed smile before disappearing, leaving Kiyoshi in a stupor.
Animal Care | End