When the young man left, Abino was led into the examination room. Dr. Suda placed a pet carrier on the large stainless steel examination table. It was the same as the one the young man had been carrying just now.
“Was the person from earlier—?” Abino began to ask.
“Yeah, that’s right. He took the other cat. Sorry, but the early bird gets the worm, so he got to choose first. But don’t worry; Kajiwara will have his hands full with that one. This one’s for you, Abino.”
Dr. Suda reached one arm into the carrier and effortlessly lifted the cat out.
“A female calico. Probably around two years old. Her coat is a little scruffy, but it’ll fill out nicely soon enough.” He placed the cat on the examination table.
The fur around the cat’s face had fallen out in places, revealing some scabby patches. She was skinny and noticeably concave from her back to her hind legs. Her predominantly white coat was scattered with black and reddish-brown oval spots, a distinctive coloration that hinted at a spirited nature. Her eyes were a bright copper, and her ears now stood upright.
“As I mentioned on the phone, her kidney function has deteriorated due to the conditions in which she was bred. We’re looking at a pet that will require regular vet visits for years to come. No matter how committed you are right now, the amount of care this cat needs might exceed your expectations. I’m sorry to be discouraging, but…Abino?”
Abino was not listening. She was in a silent conversation with the cat sitting before her on the examination table.
Nice to meet you, my cat. My calico cat. You look like a fluffy cotton ball. How adorable you are.
“Abino?”
“Oh, yes. I’ve done my homework about cats. Plus, I had a cat growing up. It was a mixed-breed cat and healthy as can be, but it was quite temperamental and wouldn’t allow me to touch her easily. So, I’m guessing this cat…”
She assumed this cat would be just as wary and wouldn’t approach her. But then the cat got up and started to rub its nose against her hand.
Abino felt a tight squeeze in her chest. When their beloved cat had passed away, her entire family had mourned it. Since then, her family had avoided getting another cat. Cats had become a distant source of solace, observed only on the Internet.
So why had she suddenly decided to adopt one? And one that came with problems?
“That’s how cats are.” Suda smiled. “They’re shy, but they like to flirt with people. I suppose they have a way of drawing people in. And once you’re drawn in, there’s nothing you can do. So, Abino, what do you think? You’ll need to be prepared to bid good-bye to this one early. Are you still interested in taking the little one home?”
Abino nodded emphatically. The calico cat was no longer just a cat but a living being in the form of a cat—delicate yet with a haughty look in her eyes.
“Dr. Suda, what’s her name?” asked Abino.
Suda shook his head. “Just like the earlier cat, she grew up without a name. You can give her one now that she’s yours.”
“Shall we go to Dr. Kokoro’s clinic, my dear?” asked Abino.
Chitose sat atop a traditional Japanese dresser, her butt toward Abino, refusing to budge. No matter how many times Abino called out, she ignored her.
“Seriously, knock it off. Get down already. The taxi’s arriving soon.”
It didn’t matter what tone she used—it had no effect. But she knew Chitose could hear her. The tip of her bent tail was twitching. Her haunches, which a year ago had been so scrawny, were now firm and filled out.
“She’s refusing to come to you because you haven’t promised her any treats,” said Shizue with a laugh. The proprietress of Komano-ya was like a mother to Abino. She dangled a cat treat, and Chitose came down without hesitation. “Look, Chitose. I’ll give this to you when you get back.”
“Gee, you always lure her with treats,” Abino chided.
“Well, if I don’t, this one won’t ever come near me. It’s taking forever for Chitose to warm to me. Well, I suppose that’s part of her charm, too.”
“I mean, I was fooled myself. When I first met her, she seemed friendly, and I thought, What a cute cat. But as soon as I bring her home, she only comes to me when she feels like it. Right, my little Chitose?”
Chitose’s gaze remained fixed on the treat in Shizue’s hand.
Shizue laughed. “Well, it’s your own fault for being fooled. Just like a geisha, it’s not about being sweet all the time. Sometimes, you need to be aloof. If Chitose was a geisha, she’d be the most sought-after one in Gion. Oh, look, it’s so dark out.” Shizue peered out the large glass door that led to the veranda. “Since the downpour last week, the rain gutters on the second floor won’t stop rattling. I’ve got to get a carpenter to look at them. You better get going before it starts to rain. Take care!”
“Thank you, Mother. There, Chitose. Let’s go see Dr. Kokoro.”
They were visiting Suda Animal Hospital for Chitose’s monthly checkup. It had been a whole year since Abino adopted the calico. Abino lived at Komano-ya in Hanamikōji with young maikos and her geisha sisters. Because there were also many people coming and going from the okiya, Chitose was allowed to roam only within the inner rooms to prevent her from dashing out. At night, she slept with Abino in her room on the second floor.
In the taxi to Suda Animal Hospital, Abino talked to Chitose through the mesh in her carrier. “Thanks for fooling me, my dear.”
Talking to her cat like this had become a part of her everyday life. She spotted the taxi driver glancing briefly at her in the rearview mirror, but she didn’t mind.
Chitose no longer appeared as shabby as she’d looked when they first met; her tricolored coat gleamed. Brown fur encircled her right eye, while black surrounded her left. A white blaze stretched from her forehead to her nose, which was pointed and prominent, giving her a haughty appearance.
In reality, she was a cat that rarely responded when you called out to her. She would stare at you intently, as if uncertain what to do, before turning away. The longer she held your gaze, the more disappointing it was when she snubbed you. Just as Shizue had said, if Chitose were a geisha, she would be very popular.
They arrived at Suda Animal Hospital with some time to spare, so Abino perused the photo board on the wall. Most pictures featured cats and dogs, but there were some birds and rabbits, too. With the owners’ permission, the photos were taken on the patients’ first visit and then again when the animals were fully recovered.
Abino and Chitose’s picture was also on the wall, a picture Dr. Suda took of them on the day she adopted Chitose. In the picture, Chitose was still thin and red-eyed, and her fur was unkempt because of a skin condition. As Dr. Suda had warned, Chitose needed frequent medical treatment. In the beginning, they had been at the vet almost every day.
Nowadays, they had to come only once a month for a checkup. Every time Abino saw this photo, she was reminded of the progress they’d made. All that was left was for Chitose to regain her health completely and have her final photo taken. Abino was keen to have a picture of the new and beautiful Chitose on the board.
It was Suda’s wife who had begun putting up the pictures. She had assisted Dr. Suda at work, but Abino heard she had passed away a few years ago. This practice was old, both for its building and its facilities, and Suda was the only veterinarian still here. For pet owners seeking the latest and most advanced medical care, this vet wouldn’t be ideal.
Yes, I want to do more for Chitose. Abino was gazing absentmindedly at the photos.
