“You know, earlier, when you were about to say something—something you couldn’t say before because of your career…What were you about to say?”
Daigo’s eyes widened, a hint of alarm on his face.
“That’s, umm…well, because my career…You know what? I’ll tell you once I find a new job. Wait, is that a taxi over there?”
Daigo ran down the street.
Tomoka watched him, exasperation creeping up on her. This was proof that she had to be the one who had her act together. Once Daigo secured a job, she would immediately drag him to meet her parents.
Tomoka climbed the stairs to the fifth floor, her breath ragged. Her legs wobbled under the weight of two cat-filled carriers. After much struggle, she managed to heave open the door to the clinic. She found the nurse sitting at the reception window.
The nurse wore a look of disinterest, but she looked just like Abino. No, upon closer inspection, she appeared more composed than Abino. The nurse looked up.
“Ms. Takamine, you’re here to return the cats, right? Please head into the examination room.”
Tomoka did as she was told and waited for the doctor in the examination room.
Over the last days with the cats, she found herself pondering, Maybe I won’t find the building again. And if I do, maybe the door will be locked. If it is, Tangerine and Tank will become mine.
Envisioning life with the two cats, she’d continued to draw more and more cat illustrations. What she’d ended up with was a picture of a cat that was both sweet and sharp. The dark coloring around its ears mimicked Tangerine’s features. The evenly spaced stripes on the forehead and cheeks resembled Tank’s. She combined the two cats’ features and drew eyes that were clear like marbles. She added these illustrations to Kozue’s favorite designs, and Tomoka was pleased with the result.
“Things have come together nicely. I wouldn’t expect anything less from you! I’ve been thinking how everything’s felt so bland and inflexible recently,” said Junko.
“Hey, don’t get all high and mighty with me! Just so you know, I haven’t suddenly shifted my aesthetics to being all about cute animals. The theme here is a sophisticated sweetness for adults.”
“I see. Sophisticated sweetness. That fits the bill for cats. Let’s keep our target market the same—working women with disposable income. Women never lose their appreciation for cute things.”
As always, Junko figured out the numbers. It was thanks to Junko that Tomoka’s passions could come to life. The reliable management of this shop was all thanks to Junko. Without her realizing it, words of gratitude slipped out. “Thank you, Junko.”
“Oh, come on—what’s gotten into you? You’ve gone soft. Must be a sign we’re growing old.” Junko chuckled.
Tank’s mischievous nature knew no bounds, turning every night into a full-fledged zoomies fest. But Tank was also incredibly affectionate, constantly competing with Tangerine to show his belly to her. No amount of petting was enough for him, and she joked with Daigo that she was going to get tendonitis at this rate. It was strange that it no longer bothered her as much when her clothes got covered in fur.
Daigo had refused to see the cats off that day. As he was leaving the apartment, he’d looked away from her and asked her to take the cats back when he wasn’t around.
The doctor came in, smiling kindly.
“Ah, you seem to be doing well. Looks like the cats were effective,” he said.
“Yes.” Tomoka nodded. Since she had stepped into the clinic, tears had been streaming down her face. She longed to touch their paw pads one last time. She wanted to glide her finger over the squishy pads to feel that peculiar sensation that couldn’t be understood until you actually experienced it.
Cats truly were therapeutic.
“I’m sad to let them go.”
“Cats can have that effect. The feeling of not wanting to let go of something warm and fuzzy will stay with you,” said Dr. Nikké. “Now, you two did such a great job. I’ll be asking you guys for help again soon. Chitose, please take away the cats.”
The nurse entered the room. With a cold look on her face, she took the carriers away. Soon there were no cats in the space.
“What’s going to happen to them?” asked Tomoka.
“Well, Tangerine will go back to work. You might be surprised to hear that little kitty is a professional through and through. She’s popular wherever she goes. The patients are always smitten with her. Tank, on the other hand, lives in a grand mansion with plenty of other cats. He’s the youngest, so he’s full of energy and mischief. Both cats are cherished,” explained the doctor, as if he were discussing humans. Or perhaps the doctor had a perspective that was close to that of the cats.
“All right, my next patient should be arriving soon,” said the doctor.
“Dr. Nikké?”
“Yes?”
“What happens when someone comes here and the door doesn’t open?”
“The door will open if you want it to open. Now, take care,” said the doctor in a gentle yet somewhat detached tone. His smile resembled that of Dr. Kokoro Suda, whom she’d seen not so long ago.
When she left the examination room, the nurse at the reception window said, “Take care,” without even raising her head from her work. Once outside, Tomoka looked up at the building. It was indeed the same Nakagyō Building that she and Abino had visited. Yet, something was different.
If she could create more leeway in both her professional and personal lives, she’d like to get a cat. With her life not quite on track, she knew she had to speak with Daigo.
Tomoka looked behind her. There was no more alley, only the tall and narrow Nakagyō Building. She wondered if that room was now locked, but she didn’t check.
Mimita
5
